Shillong: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president Vincent H Pala on Wednesday urged caution over the Centre’s proposal to incorporate Inner Line Permit (ILP)-like provisions in the proposed Immigration and Foreigners’ Act, 2025, saying any comment at this stage would be premature without examining the actual text of the law.
Pala said the Congress would welcome any legislation that genuinely safeguards the interests of the people, but stressed that clarity can come only after the draft is made public and subjected to wider discussion. “It may turn out to be good or bad—we cannot say until we see what is actually proposed in the Act,” he said, underlining the need for scrutiny through public debate and legal processes.
Referring to Meghalaya’s 2019 resolution seeking implementation of ILP, Pala pointed out that a resolution alone does not amount to a law. “A resolution is just an expression of intent. What matters is how the Act is framed. Until we see the provisions, it would be very premature to comment,” he added.
On the broader issue of influx and illegal immigration, Pala launched a sharp attack on the BJP and its ally, the NPP, accusing them of failing to honour key promises. He cited the prolonged uncertainty over coal mining and alleged harassment of the public through laws regulating animal transportation as examples of what he called governance failures.
Expressing deep mistrust of the BJP’s legislative intent, Pala alleged that past policies have favoured select groups while adversely affecting others. He also accused the Centre of diluting welfare schemes like MGNREGA and pushing laws that are “pro-business rather than pro-people.”
“Given their track record, I fear this law too may end up helping some and harassing others, much like earlier legislations,” Pala said, adding that the Congress would take a firm stand once the full details of the proposed Act are made known.
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