SHILLONG: Congress MLA Azad Zaman has opposed any move to extend Sixth Schedule to normal areas.
There has been demand from several quarters to extend the Sixth Schedule to the whole state after the Centre exempted CAA in Sixth Schedule areas.
The legislator said he would seek the intervention of Union Home Minister Amti Shah opposing the move.
According to Zaman, as per media reports, the Centre is most likely to include whole state under Sixth Schedule rather than declaring ILP.
He pointed out that in Meghalaya 97 per cent is under Sixth Schedule and only 3 per cent is non- scheduled area like European Ward in Shillong, mouza no 6 lot no 1,2,3 and mouza no 8 lot no 2 and 3 in Garo Hills.
“What will happen to the bona-fide and permanent non- tribal residents of Meghalaya, we will lose our identity and rights and there were non-tribals even before partition of India”, Zaman said.
The legislator said in non-scheduled areas, the non-tribals can buy, sell and transfer land but once the entire state comes under Sixth Schedule area, they will lose the provisions of ownership of land.
“We will not remain silent but raise our voices and apprise the matter with the union government”, he added.