Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has launched a scathing attack on the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, accusing it of legislative overreach in proposing amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016.
Sangma dared the government to draft an entirely new law to safeguard the interests of the people if it lacks confidence in the MRSSA, 2016, instead of attempting amendments that fall outside the state’s legislative jurisdiction.
“The proposed amendment has failed, but the principal Act has not failed. The government tried to amend provisions that go beyond its legislative powers,” Sangma told reporters on Saturday.
Highlighting India’s federal structure, Sangma said states cannot legislate on subjects listed under the Union List. “When a Bill goes beyond the state’s jurisdiction, the Governor cannot give assent, and it has to be referred to the Government of India. This clearly shows that the government either lacked competence or had a malafide intention to render MRSSA ineffective,” he alleged.
The former Chief Minister criticised the government’s legislative ability, stating that warnings issued during the drafting stage were ignored. “They thought they were better authors. The end result speaks for itself. I pity their legislative competence,” he remarked.
Sangma further accused the government of misleading the public over the functioning of facilitation centres under MRSSA. Referring to a High Court observation, he said that in the absence of proper guidelines, such centres cannot operate. “Who was responsible for framing those guidelines? The government failed in its duty and cheated the people. MRSSA, 2016 has withstood judicial scrutiny, but the proposed amendment failed because it crossed constitutional limits,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of MRSSA, Sangma pointed to global immigration challenges faced by countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. “Why do people demand ILP? Because of the fear of uncontrolled immigration. MRSSA was crafted to protect indigenous people and preserve tribal demography,” he said.
Reacting to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s allegation that the previous government erred by including entry-exit provisions only in the Rules and not in the principal Act, Sangma strongly refuted the claim. “I was the author, and he was the co-author. If he now chooses to misinterpret the law to shield himself, I pity him,” Sangma said.
He accused Tynsong of lying to the people of Pynursla, stating that concerns over immigration affect all border constituencies equally. “He is lying to the people who elected him,” Sangma alleged.
Questioning the government’s inaction, Sangma asked why rules and guidelines were not framed even years after the High Court’s observations. “This clearly indicates a malafide intention not to implement MRSSA,” he claimed.
Challenging the MDA government, Sangma said, “If they don’t trust MRSSA, 2016, let them bring a new Act. The state legislature has enough constitutional space to draft laws that protect our people.”
Reminding legislators of their responsibilities, Sangma stated, “We are lawmakers, not lawyers. We are the authors of laws, and we must know how to frame them within constitutional limits.”
He also clarified that implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is not within the state’s jurisdiction. “ILP is a Union subject. I never promised ILP because I cannot promise on behalf of the Government of India,” he said, adding that his government had explored all possible alternatives within constitutional boundaries.
“We played at the edge of our legislative space, without overstepping. MRSSA is the result of that effort,” Sangma concluded.