ILP agitation discounting real targets Written by Meghalaya Times. Posted in Front Page Rishabh Roy SHILLONG, Sept 28: The ILP conundrum in the state is earning the maximum gaze at the moment in the public domain be it of whatever medium. The pressure groups who want the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873 to be implemented in Meghalaya are on an agitating path with large scale arson besides picketing, road blockades and bandh has paralyzed the state and its development. The BEFR is presently in effect in three northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh where BEFR and the Chin Hills Regulation, 1896 provide special protection and safeguard for the peaceful existence of the indigenous tribal people of the state besides Mizoram and Nagaland. These laws prohibit the entry of outsiders in these states without an “Inner Line Permit” (ILP) and only the indigenous tribal people are allowed to participate in the democratic process. The BEFR is now being demanded in Meghalaya to take on influx whereas the union government has reportedly turned down the demand for a similar BEFR implementation in neighboring Manipur where there was a hue and cry for the act. But looking at the agitation taken out by the NGOs in Meghalaya and the upheaval that is going on in the state actually takes one to a genuine question as to what is the real motive of these agitators. The petrol canisters that is being largely used by miscreants, allegedly from these NGOs, to burn down shops, goods, vehicles, and government properties is like holding someone responsible whereas the real culprit is elsewhere. The two shops which were burned down in Iewduh in the recent past belonged to those who are doing business in that area much before the formation of this state. They are law abiding and taxpaying citizens of the city and have not done any damage to the demographic pattern of the tribal brethren in the state. Then there was a similar attempt to torch three shops in Bishnupur Bazar area of the city although there was no damage. The question that arises here is why are these innocent citizens who are contributing to the state exchequer’s are made to harass when the real problem lies elsewhere. One does not have to graduate in rocket science to ascertain from where the influx is taking place and who are those that are changing the demographic pattern in the state? The NGOs have to realize that Meghalaya is a northeastern state and their main problem lies here. The demography of seven to eight districts in Assam that has totally changed today is not because of people from other Indian states but due to those from across the border. But the agitators or the so called NGOs perhaps know it more than anybody else that if they target the real influx from across the border then their own geography might change. All have witnessed that during the recent Bodoland crisis when there was an exodus of students from as many as four mainland Indian states as a result and riots here. And since they cannot target the real horses who have successfully changed to an extent the demographic pattern here particularly in the tribal belts of the state they are after those who have no say whatsoever. It is an act of cowardice and reminds the story of a person who was unable to take on the world and would vent his frustration on his poor pet dog every day. This issue of influx can never change irrespective of ILP is implemented if the agitators fail to call a spade by its name. It may be mentioned that there is also a growing animosity in Southern India from locals that jobs and other earning mediums are being taken away by the northeasterners. The Kannada Rakshana Vedike has vented their presence in Bangalore already on a couple of occasions. No state capitals in this country can boast of only being local-centric. It is the Bengalis, Marwaris, Sindhis, Gujratis, Maharashtrians and many others who are doing and running the business economy in every states of the country. The problem here is not with Shillong as such but the state. Today the coal belts of Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills employs an alarming number of laborers mainly from Nepal and Bangladesh by the locals who own the coal mines. Then there are the farmlands, construction sites, workshops, industrial units, cement plants where there is a need for skilled and semi-skilled workforces which Meghalaya cannot provide. These workforce have to be sourced from other Indian states and neighboring countries who in return find a source of livelihood here. Some of them also enter wedlock with the locals thus earning them a legitimate stay and that is how the demographic pattern is changing. It is not by throwing petrol canisters on harmless individuals’ that things can be changed but what is needed is a practical relook to the main problem. It is also the responsibility of the state chief minister to walk the talk that he has been doing about dealing with firm hands and all that. The law and order situation is showing a tendency to deteriorate. If this had not been Meghalaya then by now some heads in the government and law enforcing agencies would have started rolling.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 00:29:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015