Former Meghalaya Cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh has warned the government about initiating railway projects in Khasi and Jaintia Hills without appropriate safety measures to combat illegal immigration. He emphasized the need to address concerns raised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) regarding these plans, labeling the issue as “long-standing and highly sensitive.” Lyngdoh expressed disappointment over the central government’s lack of clarity on the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), noting the unresolved status of a significant resolution from the state Assembly for several years.
Despite the delay in ILP implementation, he suggested that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) could be strengthened with enhanced provisions to effectively tackle illegal immigration. Lyngdoh reiterated the necessity for state laws to be sufficiently empowered to better manage the rising threat of illegal immigration, aligning with KSU’s worries about ILP implementation nearly six years post Assembly adoption.