Shillong, Jan 20: Meghalaya will attain its 49th Statehood Day on Thursday, as the state prepares for this celebration the anti-influx groups decided to hold candlelight vigil across the state as a mark of protest against the center’s delay in implementation of Inner line permit (ILP).
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) said, “The candlelight vigil will be held in all the district headquarters of the state.”
The CoMSO has been agitating for some time now demanding immediate implementation of ILP in the state. CoMSO secretary Roypar Synrem said the protest will also be against the delay of the Governor Satya Pal Malik to approve the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
“Apart from this, we are also concerned about the long-pending boundary dispute with Assam, delay to relocate the Sweeper’s Colony, and the delay to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India,” Synrem said.
Interestingly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the state on Saturday to attend the 69th plenary meeting of the North Eastern Council. During his visit, the state Government has sought an appointment with shah to discuss various issues of the state including ILP.