Shillong, May 21: Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan was on Saturday greeted by twin protests outside the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) as he arrived to attend its XXVII Convocation.

Activists of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) shouted popular slogans “We demand Inner Line Permit” and “No ILP No Rest” while the casual workers under the banner of the All NEHU Workers Union also raised placards demanding regularization of their services as the Union Minister arrived at the entrance gate of the University.

The twin protests compelled the Union Minister to stop and get down from his official vehicle to speak to the protesters.

After giving a patient hearing to the concerns expressed by the KSU leader Pynkmenlang Sanmiet on the Centre’s delay to implement the ILP in Meghalaya, Pradhan assured to convey the message to the central government.

He asked the young leader his name and said, “Thank You. I will convey your sentiment”.

Sanmiet had informed the Union Minister that the KSU along with the people of Meghalaya have been demanding immediate implementation of ILP since the 1980s but till date there has been no response from the Centre.

The KSU leader further questioned as to “why in the state of Manipur as soon as the BJP came to power, overnight they (Centre) implemented the ILP but here in our state till now we are still waiting for the implementation of the ILP.”

On the other hand, the leaders of the All NEHU Workers Union also urged the intervention of the Union Minister for regularizing the services of the casual workers, who have been working in the university for the past 30 years.

Pradhan said that he has noted their point and would also take up the matter with the Centre.