ILP: Another bid by Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma to meet Amit Shah

Shillong: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma has said that the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has sought an appointment with Union home minister Amit Shah for Tuesday evening or Wednesday over their demand for Inner Line Permit (ILP) implementation in the state.

Speaking with EastMojo, Sangma said, “We have sought an appointment, and coalition partners are leaving for Delhi with me today and some of them tomorrow. We have sought an appointment for either tomorrow evening or day after tomorrow. We haven’t received a confirmation yet; we are waiting for it.”

Among other ministers and coalition partners, state home minister in-charge of passport and senior BJP leader AL Hek too would be part of the delegation.

“I am going because chief minister Sangma wants me to be a part of the team,” Hek said.

Hek, who has been the state health minister, was given the home (passport and prisons) portfolio in the Cabinet reshuffle done last week.

The MDA government has been making efforts to meet the Union home minister and hold talks concerning implementation of ILP in the state and other issues but so far Shah’s office has not reverted with a time slot for the meeting.

The latest attempt made by the government was on January 27 and Shah had asked the government to wait till Delhi elections were over.

United Democratic Party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said that he was hopeful the meeting this time will be a positive one.

“As per the information, the meeting with the Union home minister is scheduled to be held soon in Delhi and we hope that the development will be positive this time and I’m sure that things will go according to the wishes of the people of Meghalaya,” said Mawthoh.

“Regarding the time frame and time factor, in politics we need to be patient. Objective is there and our objective is to bring about effective control mechanism as far as the illegal immigration is concerned. If we have been waiting for the last four decades fighting for the issue of bringing about an effective control mechanism in the state of Meghalaya, why can’t we just wait for some more time?” added Mawthoh.

The Meghalaya Assembly had adopted the ILP resolution on December 19, 2019.