SHILLONG: The National Hynniewtrep Peoples Federation (NHPF) has renewed its demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya, urging the Central Government to act without further delay.
On February 2, the federation submitted a memorandum to Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, requesting him to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha and press the Centre to expedite the introduction of ILP in the state.
Addressing reporters, NHPF president Andreas Nongkynrih said the federation approached Gandhi to ensure that the long-pending demand receives national attention.
He noted that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had recently acknowledged the need for ILP in Meghalaya, indicating growing consensus on the issue.
Nongkynrih also recalled that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had earlier unanimously passed a resolution in support of ILP, with all 60 MLAs endorsing it. However, he expressed concern that the resolution has yet to be implemented.
According to the NHPF leader, enforcing the ILP would help safeguard the rights and identity of indigenous and tribal communities by regulating the entry of outsiders into the state.
He alleged that there have been increasing attempts by people from other parts of India as well as from Bangladesh to settle in Meghalaya, creating demographic and socio-economic pressures.
“The ILP is a constitutional and legal mechanism to check such influx and protect the interests of the local population,” Nongkynrih said.
Highlighting precedents, he pointed out that ILP is already operational in states such as Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur.
In these states, visitors are required to furnish details about their stay and travel plans. Nongkynrih asserted that the system has not hampered tourism and economic activity there, and similar outcomes could be expected in Meghalaya.
He further informed that the memorandum was forwarded through Shillong Member of Parliament Dr. Ricky Syngkon, urging coordinated efforts to pursue the matter at the parliamentary level.
The federation has appealed to Rahul Gandhi to question the Centre on when it intends to fulfil Meghalaya’s long-standing demand for ILP.
