GUWAHATI, Aug 11 - Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said that no decision on having an updated citizen registry for the State on the lines of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has been taken as yet although the matter is being examined by the State Cabinet.
Interacting with media-persons here today, Sangma said that issues related to rights and identity of the indigenous people of Meghalaya is one of the top priorities for the State government and it will take all possible steps in this regard.
�However, the mechanism and how it would be done is something that is being examined,� he said.
Sangma was here to attend a function where 16 members of the Hills People�s Forum (Dima Hasao), including former legislator and Chief Executive Member of the NC Autonomous Council Samarjit Haflongbar formally joined the National People�s Party (NPP).
Sangma also said that every State should be alert on the issue so that the rights of the indigenous people are not compromised with.
On the issue of members of the forum from Dima Hasao joining the NPP, the Meghalaya Chief Minister, who is also the national president of the four-year-old party, said that the NPP wants to expand its base across the region so that issues concerning the indigenous people do not remain unheard in Delhi.
This is the first time that NPP has announced its presence in Assam.
Earlier, after joining the NPP, Samarjit Haflongbar said that the idea behind joining the NPP is to address the issues of the indigenous people in the district.
�We want to create a collective voice for the tribal people. The bold decision taken by the Meghalaya government vis-�-vis the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill inspired us to join the party. We have seen in the recent past that the powers enshrined in the VI Schedule of the Constitution has been diluted, against which we would continue to fight,� he said.
Today�s function was also attended by Thomas Sangma, legislator and chief adviser to the Meghalaya government and Surajeet A Sangma, the Assam State coordinator for the NPP.
