Centre asks Meghalaya not to enforce Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations

"Both the governments have been in touch in the past three months on the issue after 14 pressure groups have launched anti-government protests demanding the implementation of ILP," Meghalaya Commissioner and Secretary J Lyngdoh said.
   
ILP is in vogue in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.
   
Lyngdoh said that the state government has received the letter from the Union Home Ministry indicating the present status of the Act which was legislated by the erstwhile British in 1873 to restrict entry of outsiders into certain areas in the North East region.
   
The official said that the letter which was addressed to the Chief Minister categorically stated that the regulation has not brought about any positive impact on development to the states implementing it even after 66 years of Independence.
   
While the letter said that the regulations can continue in states it is in existence as per the Constitution, the ILP cannot be introduced in any other new states, he said.
   
Reacting to the letter, a spokesperson of the pro-ILP groups said that they welcomed the recommendation of the Home Ministry.