Shillong: Meghalaya Opposition Leader and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma sharply criticized the state government on Saturday for its inability to resolve the long-standing Inner Line Permit (ILP) issue and for the delays in implementing the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA). Speaking to reporters at the State Central Library, Sangma, a member of the Trinamool Congress, asserted that the government had deliberately stalled the enforcement of the MRSSA, which is designed to regulate unchecked migration and combat illegal coal mining.
Sangma accused the ruling National People’s Party (NPP)-led government of undermining the law by making amendments that have created procedural obstacles, preventing effective implementation of the Act. He maintained that the government’s failure to apply the MRSSA in its original format was a deliberate choice that has permitted unregulated influx and encroachment of land by outsiders. He argued that, if the legislation were applied earnestly, it would have fortified traditional village institutions and provided a legal framework for controlling internal migration within the state.
The Opposition leader further criticized the government’s approach to the ILP demand, describing it as inconsistent and marked by a lack of urgency, despite multiple assurances. He contended that both the ILP and MRSSA are crucial protections for the rights, land, and identity of indigenous communities in Meghalaya.
At the same time, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has reiterated the state government’s long-standing request to extend the ILP regime to Meghalaya. During a recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he urged the Centre to expedite the implementation of the British-era permit system, emphasizing concerns about illegal immigration and the necessity to maintain the state’s demographic balance and cultural identity.
The Chief Minister has connected the ILP demand with broader administrative measures, such as tighter monitoring at state entry points, improved border management, and enhanced administrative safeguards. He has consistently highlighted the critical importance of legal and constitutional mechanisms to safeguard Meghalaya’s interests.
The ILP system, which controls the entry of non-resident citizens, is currently enforced in several northeastern states. In Meghalaya, the call for its implementation has endured for years amid worries about illegal mining, demographic shifts, and challenges to law and order.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/meghalaya/opposition-leader-mukul-sangma-attacks-meghalaya-govt-over-ilp-mrssa-delay/39206/
Category: Meghalaya,ILP,Meghalaya govt,MRSSA,Mukul Sangma,Opposition leader
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Publish Date: 2026-01-10 20:59:00
