‘Tourists are like bread and butter… I don’t think it’s easy to just come and settle in Meghalaya’
Shillong, June 10: Education minister Rakkam A Sangma on Tuesday said the inner line permit (ILP), if implemented in Meghalaya, should not affect tourists visiting the state.
“It is well and good if ILP can be introduced so that we can regulate (entry of people from outside) better. However, be it ILP or any other system should not stop tourists, who are like bread and butter for the state,” Sangma told reporters on Tuesday.
Stating that tourism is the strength of Meghalaya’s economy, the minister said, “Therefore, tourism should grow and it should benefit people, who are getting livelihood out of this. So let us work together so that our tourism grows better.”
Expressing concern over illegal immigration, Sangma said the state needs ILP to regulate the flow of influx and illegal immigration.
As Meghalaya waits for the Centre’s approval for ILP, the minister said the state already has mechanisms in place like the Sixth Schedule, Land Transfer Act and the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 to address the issue of illegal immigration.
Mentioning that Meghalaya has Dorbar Shnongs and Nokmas in every locality, he said, “We are well equipped to detect whether there is any illegal settler or not. But this will only work systematically when everybody takes responsibility.”
“I don’t think it’s easy (for outsiders) to just come and settle in Meghalaya,” the minister said while explaining that NOC from district council is mandatory for purchase of land in Meghalaya besides scrutiny mechanisms at local level under traditional institutions.
Meanwhile, the minister sought an apology from those involved in tarnishing the image of Meghalaya in the whole episode of murder of Indore-based Raja Raghuvanshi during his so-called honeymoon trip to Sohra and subsequent arrest of his own wife and four others, completely changing the narrative of the case.
“I feel those, who are blaming Meghalaya and our people, should apologize,” Sangma said.
He said he felt very hurt to see people in social media and the national media blaming the state and its people without knowing the facts of the case.
“We are not people of that kind and the truth has finally been revealed and exposed today,” he said.
Sangma said people out of emotions and depression are forced to say whatever they feel but what is important is that truth of what happened has been finally revealed.
