Editor,
At least 13,000 sq km of land in Meghalaya will be affected by the CAA.
Recently, there has been significant confusion regarding the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Meghalaya, particularly concerning its impact on the Sixth Scheduled areas of the state. The National People’s Party (NPP) has made statements defending its stance on the matter, but there are conflicting reports and a lack of clarity from both the party and the government.
Just three days ago, Conrad Sangma, the leader of NPP, stated in an interview that only 0.1% of the total land in Meghalaya would be affected by the CAA, with exemptions for the Sixth Scheduled areas. However, crucially, Sangma failed to specify which areas outside the Sixth Schedule would be impacted, leaving many questions unanswered.
Adding to the confusion, NPP’s National Vice President, Prestone Tynsong, also spoke about exemptions for the Sixth Scheduled areas, but his statement indicated that 2.5% of these areas would indeed be affected by the CAA. This discrepancy further highlights the lack of clarity surrounding the implementation of the act in Meghalaya.
Moreover, despite assurances from NPP leaders, there has been no official clarification from the government regarding which specific areas will be affected and which will be exempted. However, according to annexure data, it has been revealed that the CAA will indeed impact ten different places in Meghalaya.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to note that in each of these ten districts, at least a 10-km radius from the District Council office is considered municipal land, implying that a significant portion of Meghalaya’s landmass, approximately 13,000 out of 24,000 sq km, will be affected by the CAA.
In light of these revelations and the ongoing confusion, the NPP and the government must provide transparent and accurate information regarding the CAA implementation in Meghalaya. Citizens deserve clarity and certainty regarding how this legislation will impact their lives and communities.
We will monitor this situation closely and provide updates as further information becomes available.
Yours etc.,
Junebirth C. Marak
