Shillong: The Meghalaya Assembly Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the central government to extend the provisions of Inner Line Permit under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, to the state after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 by Parliament last week.
Tabling the resolution in the House, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma termed it a “historic day for the people of state” as the resolution is in the interest of the people of the state as a whole.
“As of now, exemption has been given only to 97 per cent of the state under Sixth Schedule but that is not enough to protect the state and the people from the amended Citizenship Act. We want the entire state to be exempted from the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the Inner Line Permit implemented in Meghalaya,” Conrad said, while moving the resolution.
An Inner Line Permit is an official travel document required by Indian citizens to visit or stay in states and regions where it is applicable.
Moreover, Conrad said the government has given more teeth to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016, by moving an Ordinance that makes it mandatory for visitors who wish to stay more than 24 hours in the state to register themselves with the authorities.
However, he made it clear that the mechanism does not stop people from coming into the state but only protects the interest of the people of Meghalaya.
Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma supported the resolution to implement Inner Line Permit, but also urged the government to adopt a resolution to immediately repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 as it “overrides the country’s secular fabric” and spirit of Article 14 of the Constitution and threatens the existence of ethnic indigenous communities.
“We need to hear the voices of the people and adopt another resolution urging the central government to repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 in the best interest of the people and the nation,” the veteran Congress leader said.
BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai, who also supported the resolution, said he had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister Amit Shah against the Bill last year.
The opposition Congress also tried to move a No-Confidence motion against the Conrad Sangma government, but the Speaker said the motion would not be admitted as the sitting of the House was called for a day-long special session.
“The motion will be taken up on such day not being more than 10 days and not less than 24 hours from the time at which leave is asked,” he informed the House.
(Raymond Kharmujai is a freelance journalist)
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