Centre may not allow Meghalaya to have ILP
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 18
The Centre may not allow Meghalaya Government to introduce Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in the state to ward off impact of the CAA on local population, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, while contending that entire Meghalaya was never covered by the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873.
Why so?
According to MHA officials, the entire Meghalaya was never covered by the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 so the state can’t opt for implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP). The state government wants to ward off the impact of the CAA on residents through this move.
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Noting that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) continued to be in the state of indecision on Meghalaya’s demand to invoke the Inner Line Permit in the state, officials said this was because the entire area, which comprised the present day province, was never covered by the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 even during the British era. Therefore, allowing the state to have ILP was a difficult call to make, they added.
More to it, sources said the tourism potential of the state is also weighing high on the minds of the MHA officials. “Once implemented, the ILP will become a major hindrance in free flow of tourists in the state,” a senior official said.
The Meghalaya Assembly on December 19 adopted a resolution for implementing the ILP, which will impose restrictions on the entry of ‘outsiders’ to the hill state. It was moved by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and members across party lines, including the ruling BJP, had supported it.
After the Assembly resolution, the Meghalaya Government sent its proposal to the Centre, officials said.
The Inner Line Permit regime was extended to Manipur on December 11 with President Ram Nath Kovind signing the order and a notification in this regard was issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
