Shillong, Jan 4: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Kiren Rijiju was greeted with protest by pro-inner line permit groups against the Centre’s delay to implement the ILP system in the state.
Activists of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) displayed placards during Rijiju’s visit to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centre at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus on Monday.
The protesters were however prevented from entering the campus. The placards read – “Govt of India implement ILP in our state immediately”, “Delaying of implementation of ILP in Meghalaya is just a political injustice,” “We reject CAA, but we accept ILP” and “How long the Govt of India will complete studying about the resolution of ILP”.
Speaking to reporters, KSU vice president Biangbor Paliar said that the union has decided to protest the visit by all central ministers to the state so long as the Centre fail to implement ILP in the state.
Reacting to this, Rijiju today said the issue of inner line permit (ILP) is a political decision and that the central government is very sensitive to the need of the North East.
The minister was reacting to the protest staged by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) against the Centre’s delay to implement the ILP in the state, during his visit to NEHU campus for inaugurating synthetic athletic track and football ground at SAI training centre.
“Protest is part of democracy, demand can be made, how it can be solved, you will require discussion but I cannot comment on the subject directly because I am not dealing with this matter right now so it is difficult to go into the subject,” Rijiju told reporters.
He also recalled, “When I was in the home ministry, we had done many things to ensure that peace and tranquility is maintained in the North East.”
Stating that ILP is a political decision, the minister however assured that the central government is very sensitive towards the needs of the NE people including ethnicity and identity.
“What I can say is for the protection of the indigenous language, culture, tradition, social practice, heritage… everything is being done by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and his government. This government is very sensitive to the needs of the people of NE including the ethnicity and identity,” he said.
