Shillong,Nov,18:Intensifying their stir, the fourteen pro- ILP NGOS announced fresh three-day state-wide ‘night-road-blockade’ from November 19-21 to be effective from 8 pm till 5 am of the next day.
This was done to press upon the Government to agree to their demand to implement the Inner-Line Permit (ILP) to check illegal influx into the state.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the fourteen NGOS that includes KSU, FKJGP, HNYF,G5U, JSU, RBYF, CSWO,KWADDA, JYF, AJYWO, AYWO, ADE, AIGU and FAF held on Sunday.
All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation (AJYWO) president MH Dkhar in a statement issued that the pressure groups would intensify their agitation once the various examinations in schools and colleges are over, unless the government implements the Inner Line Permit as per the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873.
“We will not rest until the government fulfills our demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit as recommended by the High Level Committee on Influx set up by the government itself,” Dkhar said.
The blockade is expected to mount pressure on the Meghalaya government to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to regulate the entry of outsiders entering the state. The night blockade — to be effective between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. in all the 11 districts — will affect movement of vehicles on National Highways 40 and 44, the lifelines for landlocked Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur and Assam.
“In a democratic country, the State Government has the right to legislate laws in order to safeguard the indigenous population and in the same democratic set up, we have the right to agitate if the government fails to legislate laws to protect the minority,” Dkhar said, adding, “Come what may, we shall continue to put pressure on the government to implement the Inner Line Permit.”)
Meghalaya is experiencing a series of shutdowns, night road blockades and picketing of offices since Sep 2 after the breakdown of talks between the government and protesting groups on the ILP issue. Several cases of arson were reported in East Khasi Hill districts in last few days.
Fourteen organisations include the Khasi Students’ Union, the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia, Garo People and the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front are demanding the introduction of the Inner Line permit (ILP) system, the absence of which, they say, would lead to the number of people entering Meghalaya getting out of control, given the state’s proximity to Bangladesh and Assam.(SP News)
