Shillong, Jan 13: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has informed that he will be taking up the two burning issues of the Inner Line permit and the Meghalaya Resident Safety and Security Amendment Bill issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah when the latter arrives in Shillong, later this month.
Speaking about the upcoming visit of the union home minister to the state, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, “I had a discussion with the honourable Home Minister Amit Shah. He is supposed to come here on the 23rd of January for the North Eastern Council’s plenary meeting and in case he comes we will have a meeting in Shillong itself. If there is any change in his programme then I will be making it to Delhi most likely before 23rd of this month.”
The Union Home Minister is expected to chair the 69th plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC).
The Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) enacted on September 27, 2016, and its amended version of 2019 seek to address the issue of influx by making everyone who wishes to enter Meghalaya to go through set protocols of establishing their identity at facilitation centres set up at entry points to the State.
Earlier, in December, Meghalaya Governor, Satya Pal Malik met the union home minister in New Delhi and discussed several issues of the state, including the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).
However, it was conveyed that any major decision on any or all matters raised by the Governor will only be taken once the Union Home Minister meets and discusses with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
Mentioning further, the Chief Minister said, “As you are aware there has been some observation made by the Governor and it was sent to us, after that the governor himself has called me and we had discussions.”
“He (Governor) said that he will work closely with the state government and with the central government to find a way forward to get this bill passed and after that, he had a meeting with our union home minister in Delhi. The home minister has mentioned that he would like to discuss the matter with me and then take a decision,” said the Chief Minister.
