Shillong, June 27: The ongoing debate over regulating the entry of outsiders into Meghalaya intensified on Friday, with Cabinet Minister and MDA-II spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh asserting that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) is not meant to replace or complement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.
Lyngdoh’s statement comes at a time when pressure groups have renewed their demand for the implementation of the ILP in the state, following recent crimes allegedly involving non-locals. Meanwhile, the Union Government is still reviewing Meghalaya’s official request for ILP coverage.
“You see, the MRSSA is not supposed to be a substitute or an adjunct to the ILP, but the MRSSA is a state law under which the government and also the State Assembly have had several rounds of debate. And it is, in one sense, an improvement upon the ILP because it has been drafted and framed by lawmakers of this century,” Lyngdoh explained.
He pointed out that the ILP originated from the colonial-era Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation.
“So to that extent, the MRSSA would also allow the State Assembly to come up with amendments from time to time, as and when needed,” he said.
“So I leave it to the wisdom of the electorate, but here we have a State Act which we are at liberty to improve upon at any point of time,” Lyngdoh added.
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