Shillong: The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Wednesday descended into disorder following a heated confrontation between the ruling coalition and the opposition over the state government’s move to seek protected/restricted area status for Meghalaya under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
The chaos forced Speaker Thomas A Sangma to adjourn the House for ten minutes.
Tensions flared as members argued over the pending demand for the Inner Line Permit (ILP), with loud exchanges disrupting proceedings.
As the situation spiralled, the Speaker repeatedly urged members to maintain order, warning them to respect the authority of the Chair before announcing a temporary adjournment.
Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit accused the government of lacking honesty in its approach to ILP, questioning whether the administration was genuinely committed to protecting public interest.
“I would like a sincere reply whether the government is playing with the sentiment of the people,” he said, alleging that the issue of influx was not being addressed seriously.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma strongly rejected the allegations, saying the government had consistently taken the matter up with the Centre.
He told the House that he had written to and met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister several times on the ILP issue, and challenged the opposition to show similar efforts. “Giving speeches is easy, but action is what matters,” he remarked.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who holds the home and parliamentary affairs portfolio, also responded sharply, telling opposition members that if they were serious about ILP, they should pursue the matter directly in Delhi instead of turning the Assembly into a battleground.
After the House resumed, the Speaker appealed for restraint and reminded members that the Assembly was a forum for “civilised discussion.”
The debate then continued with the chief minister reiterating that the government was still actively pursuing ILP while also exploring other legal mechanisms under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, to curb illegal immigration.
“We have not stopped pursuing ILP. We are pursuing it, and we are also looking at other mechanisms,” Sangma said, adding that the government remained open to working with the opposition on the issue.
ALSO READ: Meghalaya government to review proposal for separate Shillong district
The exchanges intensified again when VPP legislators, including North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, accused the government of misleading the public.
The chief minister hit back, saying the allegations were baseless, while Tynsong challenged the opposition to prove their claims.
As arguments continued beyond question hour, Speaker Thomas A. Sangma intervened once more to restore order, warning members that the proceedings would not go on record and calling the House to discipline.
The stormy session reflected the deep political divide in the state over the ILP demand, with both sides trading accusations over sincerity, action and commitment to protecting Meghalaya’s demographic and cultural interests.
