Shillong, Mar 19: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) has decided to give a month’s time for the state government to implement the provisions of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to check influx and illegal immigration in the form of an ‘Ordinance.’
The decision was taken after a delegation of the CoMSO met the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong to seek his intervention into the demand for implementation of the ILP system in the state here on Tuesday.
It also came after the state government had announced its decision to amend the Meghalaya Resident, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 as part of its anti-influx comprehensive mechanisms, in order to make it more effective.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, chairman of the confederation Robertjune Kharjahrin said the CoMSO has made its stand clear that the state government should consider incorporating the provisions of the ILP in the MRSSA, 2016.
“The deputy chief minister told us that the state government is preparing to pass an ordinance in April instead of waiting till the next session of the state Assembly to amend the Act,†Kharjahrin, who is also the president of the HYC, said while quoting Tynsong.
He said the deputy CM also informed that the government could not table the proposed amendment bill of the MRSSA, 2016 in the just concluded Assembly’s budget session due to the coming into force of the model code of conduct in view of the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
Asked, Kharjahrin said, “We have decided to give one month time to the state government to pass the ordinance and to frame the rules. However, the final decision on this regard will be taken during our meeting which will be held tomorrow.â€
The CoMSO leader further maintained that the confederation will not accept the MRSSA if it fails to have the provisions of the ILP adding “But if it has provisions which resembles with ILP, we are ready to accept because our intention is to implement ILP in the entire state.â€
“We expect the proposed amendment of the MRSSA to ensure that entry of outsiders into the state is regulated. The residential permit to any tenant/resident should have a validity of not more than 179 days and those entering the state without permit should be penalized.â€
Asserting the urgent need to have anti-influx laws to protect the indigenous people, Kharjahrin said, “You will never know, the BJP if voted back to power at the Centre may pass an ordinance to implement the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Before that happen, we need to be prepared by having a system in place.â€
As for the issue related to land, Kharjahrin said that the confederation would also demand the state government to delete the other tribes from the Schedule Tribe (ST) Order, 1950 to prevent people from other parts of the North East to buy and own land in the state.