Shillong, Nov 15: Few days after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) returned the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Amendment Bill (MRSSAB), 2020, citing certain reservations, it has come to light that these reservations are due to the provisions for setting-up of Entry – Exit points mentioned in the Bill.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home, Prestone Tynsong, on Wednesday informed about the concerns raised by the MHA to a delegation of Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC).
The central government is of the opinion that any acts and provisions enacted by the State should not cause inconvenient to people entering and exiting the state.
Informing that they had gone to meet the Home Minister to seek an explanation on the decision of the MHA and the status of the MRSSAB, 2020, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said, “The deputy CM told us that the MHA has certain reservations when it comes to setting up of entry-exit points or the gates as per the provisions of the Act (because such) gates will create inconvenience to the visitors or the people who enter the state.”
In addition, he said the MHA has reservation or has put a direction that any Bill or any Act which is made by the state government should not be against or in contravention against any Act passed by the Parliament.
Synrem said the HYC has requested the deputy CM to provide a copy of the MHA letter so that they can also give suggestions to the government.
In the meantime, the state government has decided to soon call a meeting with all stakeholders to revisit the Bill and amend it as per the directions and observations by the MHA
Synrem further said he cannot comment any further on the MHA letter but the demand of the HYC is for the Governor to grant his assent to the MRSSAB, 2020 at the earliest.
“We have made two demands before the government – if you cannot give us ILP, give us MRSSAB but at the same time we understand that the Centre is a bit hesitant to give ILP, so we request the government that the amendment Bill should be passed. But as far as we understand right now, the amendment Bill will take time because there should be a discussion as to how it should be streamlined so that the concerns raised by the MHA should not be a problem for the state to implement the Act,” he said.
