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The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisation (CoMSO) on Friday staged a sit-in demonstration in Shillong to put pressure on the Centre to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.

CoMSO is a conglomerate of several groups which has demanding the implementation of ILP in the state and amendment of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).

A delegation of CoMSO also met the governor Satya Pal Malik at the Raj Bhavan and sought his intervention by taking up the ILP issue with the Centre and to give his assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The sit-in demonstration was held at Malki Ground from 11 am to 3 pm.

CoMSO chairman Robertjune Kharjahrin said that it would be a good initiative if all the 60 MLAs go to Delhi and raise the demand with one voice before the Union government.

“All legislators of the state cutting across party affiliations should go together to Delhi and put pressure on the Central government to implement ILP in the state,” Kharjahrin said.

Meghalaya has been demanding the implementation of ILP for decades.

A resolution on ILP was unanimously passed in the State Assembly last year to urge the Central government to implement the ILP in the state.

Earlier, a delegation of CoMSO met governor Satya Pal Malik and sought his intervention with the Union government regarding the implementation of Inner Line Permit in the state.

The delegation also urged the governor to approve the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which has been passed by the State Assembly.

CoMSO secretary Roikupar Synrem said the delegation explained to the Governor the need to have special protection in the form of ILP.

“The Governor after listening to us, informed that he along with the chief minister will go to Delhi soon to meet the Union home minister Amit Shah and urge the Central government through him the need to implement ILP in Meghalaya,” he said.

He informed that the Governor has assured to look into the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020, and give his assent to the Bill if it is for the interest of the indigenous people.