SHILLONG, FEB 18: A heated exchange erupted in the Assembly between Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma over the government’s pursuit of Inner Line Permit (ILP) for the state.
When Mukul Sangma pressed for a yes-or-no answer on whether the government had given up pushing for ILP with the Centre, Conrad Sangma objected, saying: “Let me reply. Please don’t interfere. This is incorrect. When I am replying, the LO should not interfere.”
Mukul Sangma insisted on a straightforward response, prompting the Chief Minister to retort: “If the LO wants a reply, I will reply. I will give a detailed reply because this is a sensitive topic. You have the passion, I keep repeating, they have the passion to bring up the subjects but they don’t have the patience to listen to the reply. What kind of an attitude is that? I respect the passion you have but have the patience to listen to the reply.”
Conrad Sangma continued, “I will give the reply as per what I think is correct. Just because he says it should be yes or no, it doesn’t work like that. I will reply so that the house is satisfied. I have replied earlier and I am repeating that we are looking at a mechanism, it is not about ILP, it is not about MRSSA, it is not about the Immigration and Foreigners Act, it is about creating a mechanism to be able to restrict the entry of foreigners and to be able to find a way where illegal immigration is curbed.”
He added, “The government has pursued the ILP. We have met the Union Home Minister multiple times. The government continues to pursue it and we always get the reply examination is going on… We are pursuing all possible ways. We are committed to ensure that illegal immigration is curbed, whether it is ILP or the Immigration and Foreigners’ Act, we will pursue.”
The Chief Minister also took a dig at previous governments, saying: “The earlier governments could have pursued it but they did not. Why did they not look into this aspect, but it is our government that has done it.”
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