Meghalaya: VPP chief terms Assembly resolution on ILP a ‘political game’
In Shillong, Voice of the People Party (VPP) president and MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit fired sharp criticism at both the current and previous Meghalaya governments on Friday. He accused them of indulging in “political games” over the long-standing demand for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state. According to Basaiawmoit, the Assembly resolution pushing the Centre to implement ILP lacks real commitment—it’s just empty talk.
Talking to reporters, the VPP leader pointed out a simple fact: Meghalaya doesn’t even need an Assembly resolution to roll out the ILP. “The state already falls under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873,” he said. “The Centre could just issue a quick notification to make it happen.” This highlights how easy it could be to protect locals from outsiders, yet nothing moves forward.
Basaiawmoit didn’t stop there. He raised alarms about large-scale infiltration into Meghalaya, especially after eviction drives in neighboring Assam. “People are sneaking in from across the border, and it’s messing with our demographic balance,” he claimed. He slammed the state government for not doing enough to stop this, warning that it puts the identity and security of indigenous communities at risk.
For the uninitiated, the ILP is a colonial-era rule that limits outsiders from entering protected areas without permission. It’s a hot topic in Meghalaya, where locals fear losing their cultural roots to migrants. Back in December 2019, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act sparked protests. They urged the Central government to extend ILP to the state for better protection.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has kept the pressure on, repeatedly discussing the ILP demand with the Union Home Ministry. He argues it’s crucial to safeguard the interests of Meghalaya’s indigenous people. But so far, the Centre hasn’t made a final decision, leaving everyone in limbo.
While student groups and civil society keep pushing for ILP implementation in Meghalaya, voices like Basaiawmoit’s say politicians from both sides have just used the issue to score points without real action. As the debate heats up, locals wonder if genuine steps will ever come to protect their homeland.
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