SHILLONG, DEC 13: Dubbing the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty, 1950 as a “nemesis for Meghalaya”, United Democratic Party (UDP legislator Ardent Basaiwmoit Thursday demanded that Meghalaya should be exempted for the purview of this act as it is one of the reason of influx of illegal migrants into the state.
Taking part in the in the motion moved by MLA Manas Chaudhuri earlier Basaiawmoit said was of the opinion that influx can be controlled to a great extent if Meghalaya is exempted from the purview of the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950. He claimed thousands of migrant labourers are taking advantage of the provision of free movement under this treaty and coming into the state.
Buttering his argument, Basaiawmoit said, “Hundreds of Nepali immigrants have been caught from time to time by ngos but they could not be deported by the authorities due to the presence of this treaty.” He said the government is left with no option but to introduce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to curb the unabated influx.
Making a plea for implementing the Supreme Court verdict of denying the schedule tribe status to the children who are born out of wedlock of a tribal mother and non-tribal father Basaiawmoit said large number of non-tribal have managed to assimilate into Khasi society by marrying local girls.
Basaiawmoit underscored the need to strengthen traditional institutions by restructuring and providing some legal power the whole concept of empowering traditional institutions in its present form would be harmful. He said steps to codify the customary laws of traditional institutions in the state is need to prevent misuse of power by traditional heads and stop indiscriminate issuing of no objection certificate or residential certificates to migrant outsiders
The district councils also came under attack from Basaiawmoit as he suggested that the state government should to take away the trade department from the councils as it has misused the Non-Tribal Regulation Act 1954 by allowing non-tribals to carry out any business or trade which the local tribal people are able to do so.
Basaiawmoit, who incidentally has been put under suspension by the UDP, claimed that he was suspended for protesting the decision of the party to allot ticket to a non-tribal.
Another party legislator and UDP working president Paul Lyngdoh, however, said that the Inner Line Permit (ILP) can be applied in parts of the state which are identified as influx sensitive even as he suggested to the state government to identify permanent and genuine non-tribal citizens of the state as a step to control the unabated inflow of influx. .
Lyngdoh said, “We will not be able to tackle the problem of influx without the support of the genuine non-tribal citizens of the state.”
Replying to the influx discussion Meghalaya deputy chief minister Bindo M Lanong said majority of the members of the High Level Committee on Influx constituted by the government has reached to a consensus for the immediate implementation of the ILP in the state besides the three tier ID system to counter influx problem.
Even as Lanong informed that the recommendations of the committee will be submitted soon he, however, said, “It is up to the government to decide and examine whichever mechanism it feels fit and proper to introduced in the state.” – By Our Reporter
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