Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is set to raise the long-pending demand for an Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state during his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Guwahati on Sunday. The demand for ILP has been ongoing for over a decade, with renewed calls for its implementation following the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The Meghalaya Assembly had passed a resolution in support of ILP in 2019, but logistical issues have yet to be addressed. Pressure groups, including the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), have expressed concerns about the ineffectiveness of the CAA exemption and the potential influx of people into the state.

The KSU has warned that if the central and state governments fail to take immediate action, they will take matters into their own hands and introduce the ILP system in Meghalaya. The union is adamant that railway projects in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills should not proceed without a foolproof mechanism against influx.

The state government has also emphasized the need to strengthen the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) to address concerns related to the influx of people from Bangladesh.

The meeting between Sangma and Shah comes as the Union Home Ministry convenes a meeting of chief ministers of Northeastern states to discuss the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the region. Sangma plans to discuss the ILP issue with stakeholders, including pressure groups and civil societies, to allow the vital railway project linking Shillong from Byrnihat to proceed.