Shillong, Jan 10: Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma has criticised the NPP-led MDA government for proposing amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) 2016, thereby overstepping its legislative powers.
The reaction of Sangma follows the statement of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong that the previous Congress-led government under Mukul proposed entry-exit points without incorporating the provisions in the Principal Act, as these were made only in the Rules.
Mukul has dared the government to draft a new law protecting the people’s interests, if they doubt the efficacy of the MRSSA, 2016.
“The government’s proposed amendment has failed, but the principal Act (MRSSA) has not failed because they wanted to amend, which goes beyond their legislative jurisdiction,” Sangma told reporters on Saturday.
The Leader of Opposition has also refuted Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s allegation that the previous Mukul Sangma‑led government committed a blunder by inserting entry‑exit provisions only in the Rules, not in the principal Act, citing that this omission rendered the legislation incomplete and vulnerable to judicial scrutiny.
“I am the author, and he (Tynsong) was also the co-author; he was also there while we were discussing, and if he wants to somehow take shelter under this kind of misinterpretation of the mandate of the law, I pity him,” Mukul said.
He also accused Tynsong of lying to the people. “At the same time, I am also angry because he is lying to the people who have elected him. He is lying to the people of Pynursla. Are people of Pynursla not concerned about immigration? They are, yes.”
Mukul alleged that the government has a “malicious intention” not to implement the MRSSA. After the observation of the high court, how many years have passed, why couldn’t they do? That means they have a malicious intention not to implement this.”
The Leader of Opposition has clarified that implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is not within the state’s purview, unlike what the Chief Minister Conrad Sangna has promised.
ILP is not a state subject. So, I couldn’t have promised to implement ILP unlike the present and chief minister because I know I cannot promise on behalf of the government of India, I cannot take the union government for granted.”
He challenged the MDA government to come up with a new Act to protect the interests of indigenous people, if they don’t trust the MRSSA, 2016.
“Now, if they don’t have the basic trust in the positive outcome of the MRSSA, 2016, let them come up with another Act. The state legislature has enough space to script any Act to protect the interest of our people”, he said.
