SHILLONG, SEPT 26: The National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has decided to soon convene an all party meeting to discuss on the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) like exercise in the state.
The government at the same time assured to speed up the construction of the entry and exit points especially those identified as the most critical locations to check influx and illegal immigration.
Replying to a short duration discussion in the Assembly on Wednesday, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said, “We intended to call an all party meeting and we also intended to call different stakeholders to discuss on this particular issue (NRC).”
Admitting that the NRC is one of the ways to prevent influx and illegal immigration, Conrad however, said “But this exercise is huge and tedious and therefore lots of consultation and discussion with different stakeholders will be done.”
Earlier while moving the short duration discussion, opposition Congress member from Mawlai Process T Sawkmie said that it is high time to introduce NRC in the state to check illegal immigration in the state.
While participating in the discussion, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said that keeping in mind the fallout of the NRC in Assam, there is need to see that the state is not at the receiving end.
Stating that as per inputs there has been an abnormal increase of electorates in some areas of the state, Mukul urged the state government to ensure all authorities concerned are activated.
The chief minister further informed that the state government has decided to strengthen the provisions of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016.
“I have officially asked the political department to look into this and find out ways on how we can strengthen the provisions in the Act, 2016 so that powers are given to the headmen or nokmas to ensure that our people are protected. We are definitely on the job to make it even better and stronger,” he said.
With regards to the setting up of entry and exit points as mandated by the Act, Conrad informed that as recently as last week, a meeting with the chief secretary and senior government officials was held to discuss about the status of the project.
He said that the process of land acquisition for the locations are already in the advance stage adding that construction of the entry and exit points will be in a phase manner since it is not possible for the state government to do it for all the locations in one shot.
“But I can assure the House that the entry and exit points in the most critical locations in the state will be taken up first,” Conrad added.
Meanwhile, the chief minister assured that the government’s top priority is to protect the citizens of the state.
While the different district administrations have been asked to keep a close watch on the matter especially on concern if there is sudden increase in the population, he said that more than 252 personnel manning the infiltration check gates and points on rotation basis are taking up different tasks.
On the other hand, opposition Congress member from Umroi George Lyngdoh also urged the government to sensitize people on the need to have proper documents otherwise the proposed NRC exercise might boomerang if it is to be implemented in the state to which the chief minister stated that all aspects will be discussed.
By Our Reporter
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