CoMSO to start statewide movement for ILP

Shillong, July 27: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) will call for a statewide movement to ensure that the Centre implements the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.

“We have decided to intensify our demand for ILP by calling for a statewide movement with direct action which will be visible in the days to come,” said CoMSO chairman Robertjune Kharjahrin in a statement issued after a meeting.

The CoMSO leader said the meeting has also decided to unite all stakeholders, including NGOs and traditional heads on the issue.

However, the political parties are excluded.

The decision for direct action was taken after the CoMSO along with other pro-ILP groups have expressed disappointment over the delay of the Centre to make clear its stand on the ILP resolution passed by the  Assembly in 2019.

The CoMSO also condemned the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his silence over the issue during the meeting held with the pressure groups.

The meeting also elected new office bearers of the working committee of the CoMSO.

Kharjahrin was re-elected as the chairman of the confederation.

However, the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the union home minister had assured to examine the demand for implementation of ILP system in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said the union home minister had given a very patient hearing not just to the delegation of the state cabinet but to others who met him during his visit to the state last week.

“In the meeting, he had mentioned that he will be examining the matter. The Govt of India is examining the matter is what he had told the cabinet during the discussion we had with him,” the chief minister said.

Conrad said besides ILP, issues related to border talks and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the 8^th schedule to the Constitution were also taken up with the union home minister.