SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has disclosed that the Meghalaya government has submitted a comprehensive memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Shillong for the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC). In this memorandum, the state government strongly urged and reminded the Centre regarding four critical and pressing issues that directly impact the welfare and security of Meghalaya and its citizens.
Interacting with media persons, the Chief Minister emphasized that Meghalaya urgently requires legal mechanisms to check and control the illegal influx of foreign nationals into the state. The state government formally requested the Central government to grant immediate approval for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), which has already been unanimously passed through a resolution by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Alongside ILP, the state government stressed the need to strengthen the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA). Sangma urged the Government of India to provide both legal measures concurrently to ensure robust surveillance and monitoring of individuals entering the state from outside.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister stated that the state government has urged the Government of India to include both the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Sangma noted that this is a long-standing demand of the people, which has already been officially adopted by the state assembly, and he has once again reminded the Union Home Minister to expedite the matter.
The state government also initiated discussions regarding the proposed amendments to the Sixth Schedule.
Acknowledging that the amendment bill is currently pending with the Central government as it continues consultations with various state governments and Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), Meghalaya has strongly demanded that prior to any final amendment, the Centre must properly consult all concerned state governments and District Councils to ensure it genuinely benefits the indigenous tribal communities of the Northeast region.
Additionally, the state government utilized the opportunity to convey deep-seated anxieties regarding the amendments made to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Numerous organizations and groups have expressed serious concerns that these new legislative changes will adversely affect development projects as well as assets and resources accumulated over many years.
The state government fully integrated these local concerns into the memorandum submitted to the Centre.
In response to these four critical issues, the Chief Minister shared that the Union Home Minister received the memorandum positively and has extended an official invitation to the state government to visit Delhi along with relevant stakeholders.
This upcoming meeting will facilitate detailed discussions and consultations regarding the specific modifications that the state wishes to see in the FCRA Amendment Bill.
Sangma assured that the state government will actively lead, follow up, and pursue all these four matters consistently to secure the best interests and benefits for the state of Meghalaya.
