NRC not within executive power of the state: CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 10, 2019

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the state government has no ‘executive power’ to implement the national register of citizens (NRC) in Meghalaya. 

“It (NRC) is a subject which is under the purview of the central government,” Conrad said while replying during the short duration discussion on the issue raised by opposition member Mayralborn Syiem in the Assembly. 

He said there were strong concerns that the neighbouring states especially Meghalaya would have to bear the fall out on the release of the final NRC data by the Assam government on August 31, in which as per reports had excluded about 19 lakh persons. 

Assuring that the state government would find solution to protect the interest of the indigenous people, chief minister said the government has implemented the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 to tackle issue of influx and illegal immigration into the state. 

“The government is also exploring since there is a desire to strengthen and give more teeth to the Act,” he said. 

Asserting the need to strike a balance on three aspects while strengthening the Act, Conrad said these include the interest of the state and its people, adhering to the constitutional provisions and ensure that genuine citizens, who visit the state with genuine interest are not harassed.

Seeking the cooperation of all the members of the House, the chief minister said, “This is an issue which is beyond politics and we are here for the people of the state and are ready to work together.” 

“We are concern and we are working to ensure no illegal immigrant gets to enter the state,” he said.

On the issue related to the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), Conrad said he had raised concern on whether the Centre would give citizenship without asking the state governments’ for their clearance. 

“If the government of India decides to go ahead with the CAB then what will happen to states which are implementing the ILP and what will happen MRSSA, 2016. These concerns were also  expressed to which the union home minister Amit Shah assured that there will be consultations with the state governments and civil societies,” he said. 

Earlier while participating in the discussion, Leader of opposition Mukul Sangma said the recent NRC update in Assam has left out many genuine Indian brides born in other states. 

“The saddest thing about this (NRC publication) exercise is that genuine Indian citizens are left out. I received frantic calls from victims in Assam,” Mukul said. 

“All brides taken from other states have been excluded. Brides born in West Bengal, Nagaland, Bihar and Meghalaya were excluded from the NRC and this has agonised them,” he said, urging upon the state government to take up with the concerned authorities. 

The former chief minister also warned that such exercise in Assam should not victimise neighbouring states as those people who did not find their names in the NRC will try to infiltrate into the neighbouring states. 

He also urged the state government to implement the Meghalaya Resident Safety and Security Act in the state to ensure that no foreigners in Assam find a place here.

In the course of his reply, the chief minister informed that after the NRC final list in Assam was declared, a total of 223 outsiders were detected and sent back to their place of origin since they could not produce original valid documents. 

Of this, 114 persons from Byrnihat checkpost, Dainadubi 66, Ratacherra 5 and 3 detections at Khliehriat, he said while adding “the government is concerned with the issue and exhorts all line eepartment and civil society to assist in our endeavour to tackle the situation.” 

He said the government has also alerted all field units to maintain strict vigil on 24 hr basis. Instructions were issued to conduct checking comprehensively and not to allow anyone coming from Assam without sufficient proof of documents. 

The check posts/ check gates at the key entry points bordering with Assam have been posted with adequate manpower. 

He said all district Superintendents of Police have been directed to liaise with the local headman and to activate VDPs in all villages with instruction to provide information of any attempt of infiltration of illegal immigrants in their villages and if there are any unknown individual coming into the village. 

Infiltration Special Squad present in all districts has been directed to conduct enumeration of villages and submit an enumeration report every month as a precautionary step in detecting infiltrators, he said. 

The Chief Minister said he has spoken to his counterpart in Assam with regards to rejection from the NRC of women hailing from Meghalaya but who are married in Assam. 

He also assured that the government will write to the Election Commission to seek clarification on if a voter can introduce another voter for inclusion in the electoral roll.