A “Jan Sanshad” organised by the Bhaichung Bhutia-headed Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) at Adampool near Gangtok on Sunday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Sikkim to safeguard the interests of the Himalayan state.

Calling for the immediate implementation of the ILP, the meeting, which was attended by representatives of over 20 organisations, including political parties, urged the Sikkim government to pass a resolution and move the Union government for the implementation of the ILP in the state.

The regime is in place in four northeastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. The ILP is an official document issued by the government of any of the four states to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen from outside the respective state for a limited period.

“The people of Sikkim are of the opinion that for the security of the people of Sikkim and to control the problems of Sikkim like illegal influx, drug trafficking, unemployment and crime and for the national security of India, Inner Line Permit is a must-have in Sikkim,” said the resolution.

Biraj Adhikari, a senior leader of the HSP, told The Telegraph that his party would soon lead a delegation comprising representatives of political parties and other organisations that had lent their support to the Jan Sansad resolution to Delhi and submit a memorandum to Union home minister Amit Shah. “D.B. Chauhan (the president of BJP’s Sikkim unit) will also be part of the delegation,” he said.

Chauhan attended the Jan Sansad and extended his party’s support to the demand for the implementation of the ILP. “BJP Sikkim has always supported the demand of ILP to safeguard Article 371F and to control the rising influx in the state of Sikkim. Our Hon'ble MLA (had) raised the issue in the recently-held session of the State Legislative Assembly. We strongly endorse the resolution adopted by the Jan Sansad in the interest of the people of Sikkim,” he later posted on his Facebook page.

Even though the HSP had invited both the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and the main opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), they preferred to give the meeting a miss. However, both the parties had in the past spoken in favour of extending the ILP system to the state.

Bhaichung said the HSP would continue to fight for the ILP until its adoption in Sikkim. “The party will reach out to every Sikkimese through a yatra to spread awareness of the ILP,” he said. The HSP has been carrying out a campaign throughout the state on the issue.