Regulating entry of outsiders does not mean hating others: KHADC chief

Shillong, Nov 22: KHADC chief executive member, Hispreaching Son Shylla on Thursday said that the question of hating others does not arise just because there is a need to regulate entry of outsiders into the state by implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

He also said that the real problem faced by the state is inter-state influx and not illegal foreigners.

“The issue in Meghalaya is not influx by foreigners but inter-state influx,” Shylla said while speaking on the last day of the KHADC’s three-day winter session.

Shylla urged the Meghalaya government to advice the Governor to give his assent to the KHAD (Inner Line as adapted from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873) Regulation Bill, 2018 passed by the KHADC recently.

Stating that the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 is constitutional, Shylla said a union minister had also clearly stated in Parliament that the main aim of the ILP is to prevent settlement by other Indian nationals.

“The question of hating others does not arise but all we want is to regulate their (outsiders) entry into the state,” he said.

The KHADC chief further alleged that the NGOs who are demanding the setting up of entry-exit points to check influx have been “misled” because these are facilitation centres to facilitate the entry of people from outside into the state.

The setting up of the entry-exit points have been mandated by the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 passed by the state government as part of its anti-influx comprehensive mechanism.

“The MRSSA is a serious threat to the indigenous population if implemented, and I urged all our ministers and MLAs to study this Act because we need ILP to tackle the issue of inter-state influx,” Shylla stated.

Meanwhile the KHADC chief told reporters that he would soon submit a written explanation to Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on the stand of the Council with regards to the MRSSA.

Recently, the Chief Minister asked Shylla to explain the reason for drawing his conclusion that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 will facilitate influx of people from outside.

However Shylla said, “The KHADC will submit a written explanation to the CM who has given us the chance to clarify.”