Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisation (CoMSO), a conglomeration of several pressure groups in Meghalaya, on December 19 demanded contempt proceedings be initiated against a Congress legislator from Assam for opposing implementation of the inner line permit (ILP) in Meghalaya.
Governor Satya Pal Malik, meanwhile, flew to the national capital on December 19 to meet Union home minister Amit Shah and brief him on the growing demand for implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, besides the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Amendment Bill, 2020.
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council-led CoMSO staged a protest at Motphran area demanding implementation of the ILP and also action against Congress legislator from Assam’s North Karimganj assembly constituency, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, besides protesting against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Purkayastha had recently submitted a petition to chief minister Conrad Sangma urging him to rethink on implementation of ILP in Meghalaya.
The Assam legislator contended that the ILP if implemented will obstruct normal movement of people from nearby states, as Meghalaya is a major transit state.
However, CoMSO chairman and president Hynniewtrep Youth Council, Robertjune Kharjahrin demanded during the protest that the Meghalaya legislative assembly should take action against the Assam Congress legislator.
“The decision to implement ILP in Meghalaya was a unanimous resolution adopted by the 60 legislators of the Meghalaya assembly and the Congress legislator from Assam going against the collective decision is a case of contempt,” Kharjahrin said.
He also termed the opposition of the Assam legislator to the collective decision of the 60 members of the Meghalaya assembly is “disrespect” to the resolution passed by the Meghalaya legislative assembly.
Mounting pressure on the Central government and the state government for immediate implementation of the ILP, CoMSO have threatened to boycott the 2023 assembly elections if their demands were not met.
Banners supporting ILP in Meghalaya
CoMSO activists also displayed banners during the protest and burnt effigies of prime minister, the Congress MLA and announced that CoMSO would take out a “torch rally” on December 30 to commemorate the death anniversary of U Kiang Nangbah and again demand for the implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya.
“We appeal to the union government to honour the aspirations of the people of Meghalaya and implement ILP in the state. The indigenous people of Meghalaya have fought for too long. Once again, we urge the Meghalaya government to lead a delegation comprising of the 60 legislators to go to Delhi and demand for ILP,” Kharjahrin demanded.
