SHILLONG, Dec 19 - The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly today unanimously adopted a government resolution to urge the Centre to implement the inner line permit (ILP) system in the State.
The resolution was adopted after a lengthy discussion in the House with both the members from the ruling NPP-led coalition and the Opposition Congress seeking implementation of the ILP.
The government resolution was moved by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who said it was a �historic day for the State�, adding that exempting 97 per cent of the State from the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) �is not enough�.
�We want the entire State to be exempted from the purview of the CAA and the ILP to be implemented in the State of Meghalaya,� Sangma said while moving the resolution.
The government resolution reads: �Although CAA has provided that it shall not apply to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, this provision will not be adequate to protect and safeguard the interests of the tribal population of the State.�
Therefore, it was resolved to propose to the Centre �to implement the Inner Line Permit to safeguard the interests of the citizens of the State of Meghalaya under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873�.
It was further resolved to urge the Government of India to make necessary amendments to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation for inclusion of Meghalaya in the Preamble of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. The Chief Minister reiterated that a lot of changes were incorporated into the present Act from the time it was introduced in 2016 and 2018 in Parliament.
While defending the NPP�s support to the Act, he said a number of concerns of the State were addressed in the Act, however, it was not enough and the �fight has to continue� till the State gets total exemption and the ILP is implemented.
He further informed the House that the Government is trying to bring in a further legislation to discourage influx and some other laws like the Land Transfer Act to the advantage of the indigenous tribal population.
Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said that along with the ILP, the State has to implement other laws so that illegal influx into the State could be curbed.
Members of the Congress as well as the ruling party participated in the debate expressing concern over influx and called for implementation of the ILP and an ordinance by amending the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act.
BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai, too, participated in the discussions and said he had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister against the Bill last year. Shullai also supported the demand for implementing the ILP in the State.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress wanted an amendment to the government resolution which was disallowed by the Speaker, Methbah Lyngdoh. The amendment sought that the Centre be asked to �immediately repeal the CAA�, besides implementing the ILP.
