Shillong(Meghalaya), Feb 23: BJP leader and Cabinet Minister in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government A. L. Hek received flak for saying that people of the state are not restless on the issue of implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
It may be mentioned that on Friday, a day after Union Home Minister, Amit Shah told the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) delegation that the centre was examining the resolution passed by the state assembly to implement ILP in the state, the KSU said that such statement is an insult to the indigenous people of the state and unacceptable.
“This statement is immature, we hope that the minister is not trying to say that 60 MLA who have unanimously passed a resolution for implementation of ILP, represents only 30 thousand population of the State. It is surprised to see that the desire of the total population of the state to implement ILP is not seen by the Minister,” Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) in a statement said.
Stating that the citizen of the state unanimously support ILP the KHNAM said it was disappointed by the delay tactic and casual attitude of the NDA Government with respect to ILP in Meghalaya.
“We had expected quick and positive response which did not turn up to be so,” KHNAM vice president Thomas Passah said.
“The seriousness of the Government and the MLAs is still vague. The pictures is becoming clearer now that there are minister who has agreed to passed the resolution for implementation of ILP in the Assembly but they shy away from it may be because of vote bank politic,” Passah said.
He said that the MLAs are not well versed with the ILP system and are merely assuming that ILP is anti non-indigenous which is totally wrong. “Implementation of ILP will help us identify the genuine non indigenous population of the state,” he added.
“It seems that Hek is also one who is against the ILP and we will not tolerate such statement made by the minister,” KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said.
Hek had said that that there are only a few thousand who are in favour of ILP out of the population of 33-35 lakhs in Meghalaya.
KSU, General Secretary, Donald V Thabah said that from time to time people attending various rallies, have shown their eagerness and supported ILP in Meghalaya.
“If Hek is saying that there are 33 lakhs Meghalayans who are against ILP and only a few thousand supporting it then he should come up with evidence and proof before making such statements,” he said adding that such statement is misleading especially to the central government.
Thabah also said that only the genuine indigenous people of the state can decided if they want ILP or not and not the rest because till date they cannot even be determine if they are genuine citizens or illegal immigrants because the cut-off year is also not there.
The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has also condemned the statement of Hek.
“This statement by him is misleading and childish and with every passing day he is obsessed of speaking stupid,” the COMSO said.
The COMSO also asked whether the minister has undertaken a survey and if so he must have the exact data of the persons in favour of ILP he should also have their names and also of those who are against it.
“We now are starting to have proof that A. L. Hek is one of those who have asked and misled the Home Ministry not to implement ILP in the state,” COMSO said.
The COMSO has also urged the people of the state to prove to the BJP minister that they are in favour of ILP for Meghalaya by writing letters or sending messages to him on his mobile since he will know who are for ILP.
“We especially urge the residents of Pynthorumkhrah (Hek’s constituency) to remind him that they long for implementation of ILP in our state,” COMSO added.
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