Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Preston Tynsong. file | Photo Credit: PTI
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has claimed that the BJP-led central government ignored demands for its implementation. inner line permit (ILP) in the North-Eastern States, and inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The vice-president of the National People’s Party said he was saddened by the way the BJP “played politics” on issues concerning the people of Meghalaya and expressed hope that voters would “punish” the saffron party.
“BJP is responsible for not including Khasis and Garos in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. It is also responsible for the non-implementation of ILP in the state. They failed to pay any heed to the resolutions passed in the Meghalaya Assembly in this regard when the party was also part of the state government. It will lose the election without any doubt,” Mr Tyensong said in an interview PTI,
The Meghalaya Assembly had passed resolutions on the two issues urging the Center to look into them. Elections to the 60-member House will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2.
Mr Tynsong said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had led delegations to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on several occasions in the past, and urged them to consider the two demands. “However, they didn’t pay much attention,” he claimed.
The British era ILP is an official travel document that allows a person to visit a protected area for a specified period of time. The senior NPP leader asserted that the people would “punish the BJP and its hopes of forming a government in Meghalaya would remain a distant dream”.
“On March 2, the NPP will cross the required numbers to form the government on its own,” he said. Meanwhile, on the issue of ILP, the Congress said it stands for a new practical law that goes with the present times.
Meghalaya Congress President Vincent Pala said that historically tribals, whether in the Northeast or in other parts of India, have a perception and fear that their land, wealth and jobs will be taken away by the majority. “As a democracy, you need a government that understands their insecurities,” he said. PTI,
He said that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is meant to protect the interests of the tribals. Mr Pala, MP from Shillong, said, “You should have a balanced law, where we will be safe, at the same time we should also develop and prosper.”
Asserting that the Congress was not against the ILP, he said that equality has to be maintained keeping in mind the potential of the people of Meghalaya. “Tribals need protection. The best way to do this is not to stop people from coming here, but to give more rights to the local people.