The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) has decided to organize a statewide candlelight vigil on January 21, as a mark of protest against the Centre’s delay to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Meghalaya.
The protest will coincide with the celebration of Meghalaya’s 49th Statehood Day and ahead of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state for chairing the 69th plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong on January 23.
“The candlelight vigil will be held in all the district headquarters of the state to express our concern at the apathy of the Centre and state governments to implement the ILP,” CoMSO secretary Roypar Synrem said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
In Shillong, the candlelight vigil will take place at Madan Malki from 3 pm to 6 pm.
He said the protest will also be against the delay of Governor Satya Pal Malik to approve the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
“Apart from this, we are also concerned about the long pending boundary dispute with Assam, delay to relocate the Sweeper’s Colony and the delay to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India,” Synrem said.