UDP raises FCRA, coal mining, ILP issues before Centre
Shillong, Aug 12: A delegation of United Democratic Party (UDP) has flagged several vital issues concerning Meghalaya before the Centre, seeking early solutions to them.
An UDP delegation led by cabinet minister Lahkmen Rymbui raised issues, including coal mining, FCRA amendment and Inner Line Permit (ILP) among other issues during its meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi recently.
Informing about the meeting, Rymbui told reporters that the party urged the Centre to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 to resume coal mining in Meghalaya.
Noting that since 2018, the Conrad Sangma-led government has been pressing for changes to the MMDR Act to reflect Meghalaya’s land ownership pattern, he said, “We strongly urged that the MMDR Act, 1957 be amended, taking into consideration the nature of our land tenure.”
Shah reportedly assured that a committee would be set up to examine the issue.
The delegation also urged the Centre to respect public sentiment on uranium mining.
The party also urged the Centre to expedite clearance of several long-pending state issues, including the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and implementation of ILP.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Rymbui said the MRSS (Amendment) Bill, 2020 remains pending despite being passed by the Assembly and forwarded to the Governor, who has since referred it to the Home Ministry.
“We requested the Union Home Minister to look into it so that we can get approval,” Rymbui said.
According to him, Shah responded that there are “two or three points that the state will have to address, after which the Centre can approve it.”
“We do not yet know what those points are until they are sent here. Once we receive them, we will know what those points are and we will discuss them,” Rymbui said.
On the demand for ILP, Rymbui said the matter was discussed in detail.
“He (Shah) said this has to be studied as it involved different states. As you know we are not isolated,” the UDP leader said.
The UDP delegation also pressed for the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
On the issue, Rymbui said, “Shah assured that the process is on and he hopes that they can fulfil the matter and that we should be patient, and once we say this that means we have the will to do it.”
On discussions about relocation of Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong, Rymbui said, “The Union Home Minister agreed that there has been discussion with the defence authority on how they can allot the defence land for the purpose.”
The UDP further sought amendment of the law to grant minority status to followers of indigenous faiths such as Niam Khasi and Niamtre.
Rymbui pointed out that while Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Jains are recognized as minorities, traditional faiths in Meghalaya are excluded from benefits.
“We requested to amend the law which last time was done in 2014, in which Jain community was included in the minority. The Union Home Minister said that the matter will have to be studied as almost every state in the country, they have people practising traditional faiths… he did not give us a clear assurance on the matter,” Rymbui said.
On education, the delegation thanked the state government for establishing Meghalaya’s own state university despite financial constraints and requested one-time central assistance for its smooth functioning.
Rymbui also raised the issue of staff recruitment in 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools in the state.
He said the state had requested in 2021 that around 80 teaching and non-teaching posts per school be filled as per Meghalaya’s job reservation policy.
“Verbally they had assured that they implement this but what we have seen today despite this assurance is that the central reservation policy is implemented. Therefore, we insist that the 38 schools are sanctioned for tribal indigenous people so why not study this proposal,” he said.
On connectivity, Rymbui proposed a new national highway along the international border, extending from Mahendraganj through Baghmara and Ranikor.
“This will help promote economic activities and livelihood of the people. The Union Home Minister assured to examine the feasibility of the proposal,” he said.
As the UDP delegation raised concern over the FCRA amendment bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that the proposed amendments would not be retrospective and that the Bill would be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for wider consultation.
“Even if the Act is passed, it will not be retrospective, it will be prospective,” he said.
The delegation also urged that if the Citizenship Amendment Act is exempted for Meghalaya, FCRA should be considered similarly, citing concerns over designated authorities and land.
Shah, however, clarified the amendment was not targeted at any community, noting that only about 16% of the estimated Rs 22,000 crore annual foreign contribution goes to Christian institutions.
“The meeting was fruitful and I extend my gratefulness to the Union Home Minister for giving us patient hearing and he also given us roadmap of the Centre on how to deal with major issues related to FCRA, coal mining, MRSSA, Khasi & Garo language and others,” Rymbui added.
