MPLU support govt’s resolution to oppose CAB

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 8, 2019

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya People’s Labour Union (MPLU) has unanimously resolved to fully support the state government’s resolution to oppose the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

President of the Union and advocate Erwin K Syiem Sutnga on Sunday informed that the central executive committee which met on Saturday had endorsed and totally support the resolution of the government of Meghalaya and stakeholders consisting of political parties and civil society organisations submitted to Union home minister, Amit Shah in New Delhi on November 30, opposing the application of the CAB in Meghalaya.

He said the meeting also decided to totally support the anti-CAB protest called by the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) against the proposed legislation.

“The incorporation of the provision to exempt the tribal areas in Meghalaya will divide and fracture the state into communal lines of tribal and non-tribal. It is also a dangerous precedent where migration in the areas outside the tribal areas under the Autonomous District Councils will be unregulated and rampant,” Sutnga said.

The union also requested all units and members to follow the decision of the CEC.

On the other hand,  Sutnga said the union also urge the Governor of Meghalaya to urgently grant his assent to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 so that the Government of Meghalaya working together with the Autonomous District Councils can effectively guard against unchecked and illegal migration into Meghalaya.

According to the Union, this is part of the exceptions in Article 19(5) and the provisions of Article 29 of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

“It was also decided that the amendment of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, should also be seriously followed up since in the wake of the move to pass the CAB, the Sixth Schedule as the protector of tribal rights has become very important,” the president said.

Stating that the Sixth Schedule should not be allowed to be diluted in any way, he said, ” In the heat of opposition to the CAB this vital issue should not be sidelined thus allowing a fatal mistake to be again made by the tribal people of Meghalaya as was the case in 1949 when the Constitution of India was approved and passed by the Constituent Assembly resulting in a continuing constitutional anomaly.”