The demand for Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya continues to remain a key agenda for the state government, even as the Centre is yet to give its nod to the resolution passed by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Friday reiterated that the issue is still under discussion and acknowledged that the Centre has raised pertinent queries, particularly in light of Meghalaya’s position as a transit state in the Northeast.
His remarks came shortly after Parliament passed the Foreigners and Immigration Bill, 2025—a legislative move that Lyngdoh described as a significant and welcome step, especially for border states like Meghalaya.
“Our Chief Minister had met the Union Home Minister and it is not that the Centre is against the idea of the ILP, but they have raised a few queries and these queries are important for us to address and to satisfy the Centre that we are in a position to actually implement ILP once the Centre agrees to it,” Lyngdoh stated.
Underscoring the geographic and strategic importance of Meghalaya, the minister said the state’s location poses complex challenges in implementing a regulatory framework like ILP. “The issue of Meghalaya being a transit point has been flagged several times. As you are aware, we are also a transit point to states including Mizoram and Tripura, apart from districts within Assam itself. So the challenge is how do you facilitate a system like the ILP with Meghalaya being a transit point,” he explained.
He also elaborated on the Centre’s concerns, citing the constitutional mechanisms already in place in the state. “They felt that we already have the Sixth Schedule and the Land Transfer Act in place, and Autonomous District Councils are also constitutionally mandated with a lot of powers, so these were the concerns,” he said. Lyngdoh maintained that the dialogue with the Centre is ongoing, adding, “This is not the end of the road for our state. Discussions and negotiations are ongoing, and our efforts will be to persuade the Centre by responding to their queries.”
Commenting on the broader implications of the Foreigners and Immigration Bill, 2025, Lyngdoh welcomed the legislation and its potential to bolster border control. “It’s a major development and certainly very welcome for a state like Meghalaya, which has a very long international border—one that is also very porous—and we are next door to Assam, which is very prone to the problem of illegal immigration. It is going to change and in fact tighten our grip over illegal immigration into the North East,” he said.
Reflecting on the regional dynamics, Lyngdoh cautioned that cross-border movements remain a persistent concern. “Going by the current political situation in neighbouring Bangladesh, which is very volatile, we certainly need adequate steps to ensure that the state’s demographic balance is not disturbed by the phenomenon of illegal immigration. So we are in fact thankful that the government at the Centre is paying adequate attention to this serious matter,” he added.