Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has called on the central government to incorporate Meghalaya's specific recommendations into the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2019. The state submitted a formal memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to Shillong for the North Eastern Council plenary session.
Meghalaya officials argued that the Bill's plan to nominate members from unrepresented tribes is impractical due to the state's high level of tribal diversity. Instead, the government proposed that these nominated seats should go to experts in fields such as business, administration, sports, and education, while explicitly guaranteeing seats for women. The state also suggested adjusted seat configurations for its three Autonomous District Councils, noting that smaller councils like the Jaintia Hills ADC require fewer members than the current federal proposal suggests.
Beyond the constitutional amendments, the state reiterated four critical demands. These include stronger mechanisms to curb illegal immigration, such as the Inner Line Permit, and the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The memorandum also raised concerns regarding potential changes to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
Sangma noted that the state reached these conclusions after extensive consultations with local stakeholders. He confirmed that the Home Minister welcomed the input, stating, "Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded positively, asking Meghalaya to send a delegation to New Delhi with detailed suggestions on FCRA amendments and to submit the state's recommendations in writing."
Comments