Shillong, Feb 5: Stressing on the need to plead for Meghalaya Residence Safety and Security Amendment Bill (MRSSAB) first, Meghalaya Governor Satyapal Malik said it is necessary to get it passed as Inner Line Permit can come later.

Talking to a section of reporters at Raj Bhawan, the Governor said, “If I am Chief Minister, I will go and plead for MRSSAB first, get it passed, ILP will come later.”

While reserving his views on ILP, the Governor said the MRSSAB is a harmless bill, he however said that he cannot do anything about it since it is up to the state government to convince the Union Home Ministry.

The Meghalaya Residence Safety and Security Amendment Bill (MRSSAB) passed by the state Assembly last year and is lying pending with the Centre.

“As far as this Bill is concerned, it is lying with the Centre because the outgoing Governor did not sign it, so I cannot overrule that. They (Government)have to talk to the union home minister and I will have no objection if I get direction from the home ministry,” he assured.

Asked on his recent meeting with the union home minister, the Governor said, “The union home minister is a very intelligent person so he told me that he would prefer to talk about it (MRSSAB) to the CM and I told the CM that you go and plead (with him).”