SHILLONG: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) spokesperson, Dr Batskhem Myrboh has reignited the Inner Line Permit (ILP) debate, accusing the MDA government of “political flip-flopping” and questioning the sincerity of leaders who once labeled the mechanism a barrier to development.
Myrboh’s remarks suggest a shifting tide in Meghalaya’s push for indigenous protections, fueled by the presence of a VPP representative in New Delhi.
Myrboh pointed to a glaring demographic irony in the Central Government’s refusal to grant ILP to Meghalaya while Manipur enjoys its protection.
“In Manipur, tribal people are a minority, with non-tribals making up over 50% of the population. In contrast, Meghalaya’s tribal population stands at approximately 86%. If Manipur qualifies for ILP, Meghalaya needs it even more,” Myrboh stated.
He described the Center’s delay as “highly disappointing” and “unfortunate,” suggesting that the state’s overwhelming tribal majority makes the legal shield a necessity, not a luxury.
The VPP spokesperson noted that the demand for ILP—which dates back to 1985—only truly “breached” the political class in 2019 following the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Pre-2019: Most parties in the current MDA government (excluding the HSPDP) were “apprehensive” and argued that ILP would stifle economic growth.
Post-2019: There was a sudden rush to support the resolution after Manipur’s implementation.
”I doubt their seriousness,” Myrboh remarked. “They were deadly against ILP for years, offering ‘comprehensive mechanisms’ instead. How much they have truly changed remains a big question.”
Myrboh specifically took aim at Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong. He highlighted Tynsong’s journey from a Congress minister who “enlightened” people on why ILP was irrelevant, to a member of the 2018 resolution for ILP, and now to a proponent of “ILP-like” mechanisms.
”You should get clarification from him directly,” Myrboh told reporters. “The VPP is firm: we don’t want ‘provisions’—we need the ILP.”
The VPP claims that the recent “seriousness” shown by the MDA government isn’t due to their own initiative, but rather the pressure exerted by the VPP’s presence in Parliament. By framing the ILP as a matter of consistency and indigenous survival, the VPP is positioning itself as the only “firm” voice in a sea of political opportunism.
