Meghalaya: UDP submits 5-point memorandum to Union Home Minister

By Daiaphira Kharsati

SHILLONG:

The United Democratic Party (UDP) has submitted a five-point memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Meghalaya on July 24. 

Signed by UDP President Metbah Lyngdoh, the memorandum was handed over to Shah by UDP Minister Lahkmen Rymbui at State Convention Hall in Shillong.

In the memo submitted to Shah, the UDP has urged the Union Home Minister to give due consideration for implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya. 

The party reasoned that this would be in line with other small states of the region viz Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and recently the state of Manipur.

The UDP has also urged the Union Home Minister to consider the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Touching on the interstate boundary row, the UDP president stated that as a party, they are extremely happy to know that the centre has taken cognizance of resolving the vexed boundary dispute between different states of the North Eastern Region that has been lingering for almost 48 years.

The UDP chief further informed Shah that unpleasant skirmishes keep erupting periodically in the border areas, despite earlier decisions to maintain status quo.

Lyngdoh said that his party is hopeful that Assam and Meghalaya can find a solution to resolve the vexed boundary issue once and for all with the help of the central government.

On the Meghalaya-Assam Joint Cadre system (for civil servants), Lyngdoh said that although it has its merits and demerits, the system has remained a bone of contention that has greatly affected the functioning of the administrative system in the state and many a time forced bureaucrats to be subservient to their parent state.

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