Shillong, Dec 16: The anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) groups have welcomed the decision of the opposition Congress to fully support the demand for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya.

This was after a delegation of the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organization (CoMSO) on Monday met the leaders of the Congress to seek their support ahead of the special session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to be held on December 19.

After the meeting, CoMSO chairman Robertjune Kharjahrin told reporters that the Congress leaders have assured to support the ILP demand following the passage of the CAB in Parliament and its subsequent assent by the President.

“Leader of opposition and former chief minister Mukul Sangma has also maintained that ILP has become a necessity,” Kharjahrin said while quoting the CLP leader.

Appealing to all political parties for their support, the NGO leader said, “This is to send a strong message to the Centre that we in Meghalaya want ILP.”

According to him, introduction of the ILP will ensure the whole state of Meghalaya is exempted from the purview of the Citizenship Act.

“ILP will not only protect the political interest of the indigenous people but also their socio-economic rights,” he said.

The then Congress-led state government had rejected the demand for ILP in 2013 and instead passed the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act in 2016.

Asked, Kharjahrin however said, “If we start digging the past we will reach nowhere but what is important is to move ahead and leave all our differences behind and together fight to protect the interest of the indigenous community.”

On the other hand, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said the party has reiterated its decision in the CLP meeting held yesterday to demand the implementation of the ILP in the state.

“Implementation of the ILP in addition to the MRSSA will help the state,” he said while slamming the Centre for attempting to divide the North East region by bringing different parameters to different states.

He said the MRSSA was designed in such a way that it can compliment the provisions of the ILP. “It is design to deal with complete honesty and commitment of protecting the people and the state,” Sangma added.

Meanwhile, the Congress leader also informed that the party will continue to protest against the CAA in the different parts of the state.