Meghalaya: Implement ILP or else situation will worsen, warns KSU

Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union on Tuesday gave an ultimatum to the state and the central governments to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya or else it warned that the situation will turn from bad to worse.

KSU president Lambokstar Marngar said that this is not just the demand of the union but of the people of Meghalaya as a whole. Marngar added that the KSU is not suggesting but offering the government to immediately implement ILP.

Disappointed with the police’s claim that clashes broke out between KSU members and local non-tribals at Ichamati, Marngar said that the union is not violent and that the meeting at Ichamati was also a peaceful one.

He questioned as to why only in Ichamati things went violent? And who had started the violence? Marngar mentioned that the union had carried out such meetings across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills without any violence.

Marngnar said that if the Central government is serious about protecting the rights of the indigenous people, then this is the right time to implement ILP.

“Garo Hills have also started resistance due to the incident in Ichamati. Who will take the responsibility? It is up to the wisdom of the state government and police department,” said Marngar.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma once again made an appeal to all the organisations to keep calm since exams are underway and to keep all the aspects in mind and ensure peace.

Sangma informed that the government is taking all necessary measures and observing that in the past two days the state is slowly limping back to normalcy. A few sporadic incidents did take place, he added.

Sangma also mentioned that curfew has been relaxed in most parts of the city but will reimpose it with shorter durations. He also added that the state government will take a call on internet connectivity on Tuesday evening and if felt appropriate it will be lifted.