SHILLONG : The Conrad K Sangma–led MDA government has decided to invite all stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations, to discuss its proposal for an ILP-like provision under the proposed Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, aimed at addressing the issue of influx and illegal immigration in Meghalaya.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said it would be premature to oppose the proposal without understanding its contents and implementation mechanism.
“We will invite all political parties and civil society organizations to discuss this proposal. It would be incorrect for us to jump to any conclusion without actually seeing the content and the entire mechanism of how we would move forward in this,” the Chief Minister said.
Emphasizing the need for a constructive and solution-oriented approach, Sangma clarified that the core concern is illegal immigration and not the name of any particular law or system.
“Our issue is illegal immigration. Issue is not ILP, issue is not the Immigration Act, issue is not MRSSA. We need laws and mechanisms to check it,” he said.
Urging opposition parties to engage in dialogue, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the government’s proposal may not be perfect but stressed the importance of discussion before reaching conclusions.
“We are not saying that what we proposed is right. We could be wrong. But we can only reach that conclusion if we are able to have a dialogue and talk to each other,” Sangma stated.
According to him, the government is attempting to strike a balance between curbing illegal immigration and addressing concerns raised by the public and civil society groups.
“We are exploring whether this could be a possibility. All we are saying right now is that there is another option and let us explore it,” he added.
The Chief Minister further said that extensive consultations will be held before any decision is taken. “Only after getting clarity, explaining to everybody, and achieving a consensus will we try to move forward,” he said, adding that outright rejection without dialogue was not a constructive approach.
Responding to opposition leader Mukul Sangma’s claim that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) has not been implemented, the Chief Minister refuted the allegation, stating that the Act is being enforced in several localities.
“MRSSA is being implemented. In many areas, the system has already been put in place,” he said.
While acknowledging challenges such as infrastructure requirements and investment needs, Sangma said the implementation of MRSSA is expanding across the state.
Addressing Mukul Sangma’s challenge to introduce a new law if MRSSA is ineffective, the Chief Minister said this was precisely what the government is examining, citing inconsistencies between the Act and its rules.
He pointed out that while the rules mention the creation of entry and exit checkpoints, the Act itself does not provide for such provisions, making implementation legally problematic.
“If the Act does not have provisions for checkpoints, the rules cannot override the Act. There is a clear disconnect between the Act and the rules,” Sangma explained.
Reiterating the need for inclusive discussions, the Chief Minister said consultations with political parties and organizations are essential to arrive at a legally sound and effective mechanism to tackle illegal immigration.