Shillong Jan 14: Congress MDC from Rambrai-Jyrngam Bajop Pyngrope on Tuesday demanded the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019.

Pynrope told reporters that he has submitted a letter to the chief executive member Latiplang Kharkongor, who is also the chairman of the United Democratic Front (UDF) on the matter.

“I have demanded the CEM to immediately call for an all party meeting to discuss on the CAA and to pass a resolution for opposing the same when the executive committee is constituted,” he said.

Pyngrope said he would be compelled to consult with other members of his party and take a decision if the CEM fails to comply with the demand. The Congress is supporting the UDF in the KHADC.

On the other hand, the MDC pointed out that although the state government had passed a resolution to demand implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya but it was unclear whether state government support or oppose the CAA.

“Therefore, I also demand the state government under the leadership of Conrad K Sangma to call for a special session of the state Assembly and pass a resolution to oppose the CAA,” he said while suggesting that Meghalaya should also follow the example of Kerala on the issue.

The Kerala government has moved the Supreme Court against the CAA saying the amended law is against the provisions of Right to Equality granted by the Indian Constitution.

With this, Kerala government is the first state government to move the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Act, to which several states have raised objections. Kerala was also the first state assembly to move a resolution against CAA.

The MDC further slammed the attempts made to create confusion on the issue of ILP and the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

“If Mizoram has ILP, Sixth Schedule and 371 (c) and Nagaland has ILP and 371 (a), then Meghalaya also have the right to get ILP and to retain its Sixth Schedule status, which was given through the signing of the Instrument of Accession (IOA),” he said.

Asked, Pyngrope said it is a fact that the KHADC has adopted a resolution to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) but now with the CAB becoming an Act, there is need to pass another resolution to oppose it.

“Moreover even the state government along with other stakeholders did adopt a resolution to oppose the CAB but we have seen most of the political parties have supported the Bill to become an Act. We should appreciate the decision of the Nagaland’s NPF to suspend its MP for voted in favour of the CAB in the parliament,” he said.

Pyngrope said that the party MDCs will not file a petition against CAA since that has already been done by the Congress at the national level.