Meghalaya: KSU Demands Fresh Assembly Resolution to Revive Stalled ILP Demand

Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has called for the Meghalaya Assembly to pass a new resolution on the Inner Line Permit (ILP), accusing it of reducing the unanimous 2019 mandate to a mere “dead letter.”

Speaking after the KSU’s General Executive Council (GEC) meeting, president Lambokstarwell Marngar urged the Conrad K Sangma-led government to demonstrate genuine commitment by pushing through another resolution. “If the Government of India continues to delay action on the 2019 Assembly resolution, then the state government, if it has the political will, should pass another resolution to press for the implementation of ILP in Meghalaya,” Marngar said.

The demand echoes long-standing frustrations among pro-ILP groups, including the Voice of the People Party (VPP), which has criticised successive administrations for treating the issue as a “political game” rather than a serious constitutional safeguard for indigenous communities.

The Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution in December 2019, urging the Centre to implement the ILP system, similar to that extended to Manipur, to regulate the entry of outsiders and protect local interests from perceived unregulated influx. Despite repeated representations by local MPs, legislators, and civil society, the Centre has yet to notify the ILP for Meghalaya or provide any firm timeline.

KSU and allied organisations argue that interim measures, such as the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), fall far short of the comprehensive protections offered by full ILP enforcement. They warn that without robust legal mechanisms, indigenous populations remain exposed to demographic and cultural threats.

Also Read: Tejashwi Yadav Takes Charge as RJD National Working President