KSU Reiterates Demand for Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya, Urges Full MRSSA Implementation
First Published: 1st July, 2025 20:35 IST
Thabah emphasised that multiple memorandums have been submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs over the years.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has once again called for the immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya, asserting it as a crucial measure to protect the rights and identity of the indigenous people.
KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah, speaking to reporters, said the ILP has been a long-standing demand dating back to 1987 and reiterated the Union’s strong opposition to railway connectivity without adequate legal safeguards.
Thabah emphasised that multiple memorandums have been submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs over the years, but there has been no concrete action.
“The Centre says the matter is under examination, but we are still waiting. If we have both ILP and the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), it will be better for our people,” he said.
He said while district-level task forces under MRSSA have been formed, the scheme’s full implementation — including the setting up of facilitation centres and entry-exit points — is still pending. “We want MRSSA to be implemented in letter and spirit,” Thabah stressed, noting that the principal Act received the Governor’s assent in 2016.
On the issue of railway connectivity, Thabah made it clear that the KSU is firmly against any railway project unless a robust protective mechanism is in place. “Without safeguards, the indigenous population could become minorities in their land. We should not even discuss the railway unless our rights are protected,” he said.
Thabah also expressed concern over the rising influx and criticised the government’s failure to act during incidents like the Lapangap incident, where disputed land was encroached upon. He stated that indigenous Khasis are witnessing marginalisation even in their own scheduled areas.
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