Shillong, July 12: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) will intensify its anti-influx campaign due to the delay in implementing Inner Line Permit (ILP) and setting up entry and exit points in the state.
The newly elected president of the FKJGP, Dundee C Khongsit announced this at the oath taking ceremony of the new central executive committee (CEC) held at the U Soso Tham Auditorium here on Tuesday.
Khongsit said the state government is shifting responsibility to the central government.
Though the state Assembly In December 2019, had unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to immediately implement ILP in Meghalaya, there has been no progress.
Khongsit also criticised the state government for failing to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) passed in 2016 by not setting up entry and exit points to check influx into the state.
“The government’s decision to set up infrastructure in these proposed entry and exit points is seen as trying to buy time,” he added.
Khongsit said the entry-exit points were christened as facilitation centres to ensure that they are not seen as anti-outsiders but this was misinterpreted by the “black sheep” of the indigenous community.
Expressing concern over unemployment problem, the FKJGP leader said youth have lost faith in the system due to corruption.
He asked the government officials not to play with the future of the youth.
Khongsit along with the members of the new CEC took oath administered by the outgoing FKJGP president Wellbirth Rani.
Rani, who had served as FKJGP president for 26 years, was also felicitated by the federation and the Khasi Students Union (KSU).
Rani expressed confidence that the new body will take the responsibility of fulfilling the long pending demands of the indigenous people by ensuring the state gets ILP and proper implementation of trading licenses.
“Although we are thankful that we have the reservation policy and the land transfer act, we need more effective laws to protect our people and their interest,” he said.
He warned of agitation if the government continues to be adamant towards the demand of the NGOs.
