Shillong, Oct 29: The opposition Congress has asked the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government to immediately implement the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 while making it clear that the act can be amended after knowing its drawbacks through effective implementation.

After the meeting with a delegation of the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO), the Leader of Opposition and former chief minister, Mukul Sangma told reporters that the principal Act should not be amended as it has already provided huge scope of incorporating any kind of rules.

The CoMSO sought the Leader of Opposition’s support to incorporate the provisions of ILP in the proposed amendment of the MRSS Act.

This Act was passed by the then Congress-led government in 2016 to put in place comprehensive mechanisms to check influx and illegal immigration into the state.

Sangma said that now it is time to urge the state government to implement this Act fully, then need to further strengthen the act can be moved by amending it.

The MDA government is set to convene an all party meeting to take the views and suggestions of all political parties on the proposed amendment of the Act before bringing it in the form of an Ordinance.

Sangma said that the Act was passed by the previous government after an exhaustive exercise which involved all the stakeholders, and informed that his party was not in favour of amending the principal Act at present.

Stating that the principal Act can achieve the objective of protecting the indigenous people, the former chief minister said, this Act can insulate the state from infiltration of any unwanted elements whether illegal immigrants or criminals.

“Section 17 and 18 of the Act empowers the state authorities to filter incoming visitors from any likelihood of infiltration by illegal immigrants and criminals into the state. It will ensure that every resident is aware of who is staying in his/her neighbourhood,” he said.

According to him, the Act will also empower traditional institutions and heads who will act as local authority.

“While making any law, we have to see that it is within the mandate of the legislature and can withstand any judicial scrutiny. The moment any clause is incorporated in any law which we can interpret as something which is beyond the jurisdiction of the state, then we won’t be able to withstand judicial scrutiny,” he added.

The leader of opposition further stated that delaying in implementing the Act is not in the interest of the state.

Meanwhile, secretary of the CoMSO Roy Kupar Synrem said that the stand of the Congress was to push for implementation of the Act.

Synrem however said CoMSO will not accept the proposed amendment of the Act if the provisions of the ILP are not included.

“The Act in its present form has not empowered the facilitation centre to issue permit or punish those who illegally enter and stay in the state,” he said.