Shillong, July 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday debunked the narrative of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) that the government was doing nothing in terms of implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in State.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the pressure group over their recent drive against the migrants labourers in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills, the CM said implementation of the original Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 is taking place in “letter and spirit”.

“We have given them the clarification on what the concerns from the Centre were and the fact that we are pushing it. In terms of the implementation of the original MRSSA, 2016, that we also informed them that the implementation is taking place in letter and spirit and, in fact, even now as we speak, even in different localities in Shillong, registrations are taking place, the committees are being formed,” he said.

Reiterating that the question of MRSSA, 2016 not being implemented is not true, the CM said, “It is being implemented and the committees have been formed. Yes, there could be certain districts where the process is not as fast as in other districts but it will be incorrect to say that it is not being implemented.”

Article 19 not infringed by MRSSA

The Government of India has retuned the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020, citing it violates Article 19 of the Constitution of India which provides for freedom to move freely throughout India and freedom to reside and settle in any part of India and freedom to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade, or business.

The CM said the state government has clarified to the Centre that the MRSSA will not infringe into the Article 19 of the Constitution. He said the government only wants to document the citizens coming into the state.

“The whole concern of this MRSSA and Article 19 is something which we have also clarified to the Central government. We have mentioned that in our particular Act that we have put in that it is a registration and therefore, it is providing information by the concerned citizens, who are coming in. So that is not at all infringing into the Article 19 of the Constitution,” he said while adding “That’s what we have clarified on that and now we are waiting for the Centre to reply back to our clarification.”

He further said the Centre is still examining the ILP and the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, and at no point has it said it has rejected it.

“In fact, this time also when I went to Delhi I have raised the issue of the Eighth Schedule, I have raised the issue of ILP and issue of MRSSA with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary and we have discussed this matter. So it’s not a ‘No’ but it is not as yet confirmed and they are still examining the matter,” he informed.

ILP in other North-eastern states

The pressure groups have been questioning the Centre’s decision to grant ILP to other Northeastern states but not Meghalaya.

To this, CM Sangma said, “We have already asked for clarification from the Centre but more importantly the provisions that are there to protect the indigenous rights of the local people in many ways, many rules and many acts and provisions are there. And some of them are existing in our state like for example Sixth Schedule and the other Acts, our own Land Transfer Act and all these.”

He said when the CAA had come out, in State like Manipur, in the valley areas and even in the outer Manipur areas, there is no Sixth Schedule protection. So the Centre gave them the ILP at that point in time to create necessary infrastructure or system to provide some kind provisions for the indigenous people out there.

Similarly, Arunachal Pradesh also does not have provisions of the Sixth Schedule. So, the Centre has given them ILP in place of Sixth Schedule as there are many tribes there.

Also Read: Maiden Meghalaya Youth League 2024 to kick-off tomorrow

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