Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has renewed its call for the Meghalaya Assembly to pass a fresh resolution on the Inner Line Permit (ILP), criticizing both the state and central governments for failing to act on the unanimous 2019 mandate.
For pro-ILP groups like the KSU and the Voice of the People Party (VPP), the demand is more than a repeat; it tests the commitment of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government to implement ILP for Meghalaya, similar to the resolution passed for Manipur in 2019.
After its General Executive Council meeting, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar stated that if the Centre continues to delay action on the 2019 Assembly resolution, the state should submit a new resolution to compel action.
He added that if the government has the political will, it must push for ILP implementation without further delay.
The KSU’s move echoes wider frustration among civil society groups, who argue that measures like the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) are only partial solutions and fall short of granting full ILP protections.
Similarly, the VPP has accused successive state governments of treating the ILP demand as a political maneuver rather than a genuine effort to safeguard the rights of indigenous communities, claiming that even the unanimous 2019 resolution lacked follow-through.
The ILP issue was first formally raised in the Meghalaya Assembly in December 2019, with broad support across parties. Despite repeated appeals from local MPs and legislators, the Centre has yet to notify ILP for the state or provide a timeline for implementation.
Marngar stated that without proper legal safeguards, indigenous communities remain exposed to what he and allied groups call “unregulated influx,” referring to the unchecked entry of outsiders, a concern that has sparked previous demonstrations led by the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) and others.