SHILLONG : BJP MLA and former Cabinet Minister AL Hek on Monday backed the demand for implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya but said the system should be introduced with clear guidelines that protect local interests without disrupting tourism or interstate travel.
Speaking to reporters, Hek said the BJP supports the long-standing demand for ILP but maintained that its implementation should be practical and avoid unnecessary restrictions.”The government should consider ILP, but there must be clear guidelines. It should benefit both the local population and the tourism sector,” he said. Hek stressed that people travelling through Meghalaya, including passengers using the state as a transit route between Guwahati and Silchar, should not face inconvenience.”The movement of people from other states using Meghalaya as a transit route should remain undisturbed,” he said.
The state government should strike a balance while framing the ILP mechanism so that it safeguards the interests of Meghalaya without affecting legitimate travel or economic activities,he said.
he demand for ILP has remained a major issue in Meghalaya, with several organisations seeking its implementation as a means to regulate the entry of outsiders and strengthen the protection of indigenous communities. The Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution seeking implementation of ILP, but the proposal is still awaiting approval from the Centre.