Shillong: Three organizations today demanded the Meghalaya government to urge the Centre to fully exempt Meghalaya from the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and its 2024 Rules and to consider immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to check unabated influx into the state.
A memorandum in this regard has been submitted to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma by the central bodies of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Jaintia National Council (JNC), and Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CORP) for his immediate intervention.
Also read | Patriotic People’s Front Assam appreciates Assamese society on CAA understanding
Speaking to reporters, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said, “We have urged the CM to implore upon the Central government to provide for full exemption of the CAA, 2019, and its Rules and also to extend the provisions of the ILP systems in the State of Meghalaya at the earliest.”
He said that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, on March 11, 2024, notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, for implementing the provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Also read | Unidentified Miscreants Disturb Interaction Programme of Alfred K Arthur at TK Woodland
“Although the CAA, 2019, provided for exemptions of the applicability of the Act in the tribal areas of the State, the fact remains that the whole state of Meghalaya is not under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. There are still areas under Shillong, the capital of the state where the provisions of the Sixth Schedule are not applicable and also where a huge number of immigrants are residing,” Synrem said.
“In such a case, if people residing in these areas take advantage of the non-applicability of the Act in the areas that may migrate to these areas and after that are applying for citizenship under the Act, 2019, then how will the State stop them from getting the Citizenship under the Act? Is there a mechanism to keep track of the number of people presently residing within these areas so that data is kept for future references?” he asked.
Also read | Kohima cracks down on ILP violations: 495 defaulters penalized
Further, Synrem said, “We are also concerned that even if the majority of the areas in the State are exempted from the purview of the CAA, 2019, the State will be affected by the spill-over from the other States and especially the State of Assam. In the absence of any law that regulates the movement of people entering the State, we fear that the exemption provided will be futile and we may face unwarranted situations of influx into the state.”
“Therefore, the only protection that we can have from this spill-over effect is the immediate implementation of the ILP system as well as full exemption of the provisions of the Amendment Act in the State,” he said.
Also read | United Naga Council Calls for Unity in Supporting Naga MP Candidate
This is not a Ukhrul Times publication. UT is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any reports or views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of Ukhrul Times.
About The Author
