SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday said that work on the entry and exit point in Ri Bhoi district to check influx and illegal immigration will begin in May.
The chief minister told media persons here that the diagrams and maps for the entry and exit points are ready.
Stating that the government has been able to save a lot of money by deciding to develop the entry and exit point on its land, he added that it is also strengthening many existing laws to check influx.
He also informed that the Cabinet in its next sitting would discuss about the amendments which need to be made to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act.
Answering a query about plans of NGOs to launch a drive demanding Inner Line Permit in the state, he said that protection of the indigenous population is the objective of the government and it should never be diluted.
“ILP, residents safety Act or putting up gates are mechanisms to achieve that goal and what mechanisms we will use is a matter of discussion and practical approach,” he said while adding that the ILP should not be made into an issue. “The important issue is protecting people and ILP is just an option,” he said.
The chief minister asserted that the MDA government will do whatever it takes to protect the interest of the people of the state.
It may be mentioned that the BJP, which is a constituent of the NPP-led MDA, has made it clear that it would go ahead with the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill if it comes back to power at the Centre.
Reiterating opposition to the CAB, Sangma said that the MDA and the NPP during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections had made sure that people understood the stand of the government on the bill.
Stating that the BJP is clear on its stand to go ahead with the bill, he added that the NPP and the MDA government too are clear that they will continue to oppose it.
