The Central government has stated that setting up of entry-exit gates under the Meghalaya Residents Safety & Security Act (MRSSA) Amendment Bill 2020 was not acceptable and would create inconvenience to the visitors or people entering the State.
This was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong today during his meeting with a delegation of the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC).
The HYC delegation led by its president Roy Kupar Synrem met Tynsong to find out the reasons for the delay to get the Governor’s assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety & Security Act (MRSSA) Amendment Bill 2020.
It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had returned the MRSSA (Amendment) Bill 2020 to the State government with certain observations.
“The deputy chief minister told us that the MHA has certain reservations when it comes to setting up of entry-exit points or the gates as per the provisions of the amendment bill as such gates will create inconvenience to the visitors or the people who enter the State,” Synrem told media persons after the meeting.
According to Synrem, the MHA has also asked the State government to ensure that any bill made by the State Assembly should not be in contravention with any acts passed by the Parliament.
However, the HYC leader emphasised that this amendment is vital for the safety and security of Meghalaya residents.
“We have made two demands before the government – if you cannot give us ILP, give us MRSSA (Amendment) Bill 2020. Since we understand that the Centre is a bit hesitant to give ILP, we requested the government that the amendment bill should be passed. But as far as we understand right now, the amendment bill will take time because there should be a discussion as to how it should be streamlined so that the concerns raised by the MHA should not be a problem for the State to implement the Act,” he said.
Synrem also informed that the HYC wants the implementation of the MRSSA (Amendment) Bill 2020 since the MRSSA Act of 2016 does not have enough teeth to tackle influx.
“What we see is that this (MRSSA 2016) Act is only a register to keep tabs of the tenants irrespective of whether they are from the State or outside, which will in no way curb influx,” the HYC president added.
The youth council revealed that the State government is expected to convene a meeting with all stakeholders in the coming days to discuss these issues.
During the meeting, the HYC delegation raised two key demands before the government during their meeting with Tynsong.
Firstly, they called for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and, alternatively, urged the passage of the Meghalaya Residents Safety & Security Act Amendment Bill 2020.
On the issue of implementation of ILP in Meghalaya, Synrem reminded that the State Assembly had passed a resolution in December 2019 to urge the Centre to apply the same in Meghalaya.
According to Synrem, Tynsong informed the HYC delegation that a delegation of the State cabinet led by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“However it was informed to us that on the issue of ILP the Central government has not given a clear reply whether to implement it or not in the State,” the HYC president said.
Synrem reiterated that the job of the State government and the 60 legislators of the Assembly do not end with the passing of the resolution.
“We want the State government to lead and make the Centre understand why we as a State and as indigenous community need ILP,” Synrem added.
Moreover, the deputy chief minister assured the delegation that the State government will keep on knocking on the Centre’s door to remind and urge it to implement ILP in Meghalaya.
