Congress members in Meghalaya staging statewide protests on April 14, 2018 against Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma's idea of issuing work permit to Bangladeshis.

Congress in Meghalaya on Saturday launched statewide protest against the idea floated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to issue work permit to Bangladeshi nationals.

The party expressed dismay over the idea of issuing work permit to Bangladeshis and said it is not acceptable to the people of Meghalaya.

The protest began from Shillong, the state capital and Mendipathar in North Garo Hills on Saturday.

Congress questioned the intention of the CM for coming up with such an idea of issuing work permit to foreign nationals in the name of promoting trade and commerce with the neighbouring country.

The party shouted slogans at the Congress Bhawan in Shillong against government’s idea of issuing work permit to Bangladeshi nationals.

The party termed the idea as ‘disastrous’ to the people of Meghalaya which would have serious ramifications to the Northeast and the nation as a whole.

“The people of the state did not expect this idea to come from the government and in the preceding years, we had engaged with various groups and stakeholders on the issue of influx and illegal immigration and decided to come up with strong mechanisms to tackle this issue,” former Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma said on April 12.