By Manoj Anand
Guwahati, Nov 3, 2019: The Meghalaya government on November 3 made it mandatory for visitors to register their names with its offices if they intend to spend more than 24 hours in the northeastern Indian state.
The Meghalaya cabinet amended the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act 2019, bowing to a growing demand of Inner Line Permits for entry into the state.
The move is aimed at keeping a tab on illegal immigrants.
However, it could prove a major roadblock for the Act East policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the historical relationship by transforming the northeastern states into a gateway to Southeast Asia.
“This amendment of the existing Act in the form of an ordinance will come into force immediately. The ordinance will be regularized in the next session of the state Assembly,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said.
Federal and state government employees are exempt from the new entry rule.
Earlier landlords were required to register their tenants and inform traditional heads.
“But through this amendment, we make it applicable to everybody who is interested in visiting our state,” Tynsong said.
He, however, clarified that permanent residents of the state, even if they are non-tribals, need not worry.
This law is applicable only to those visiting the state as tourists, laborers, students or businessmen. They will have to comply to certain guidelines to be prepared in the form of rules.
Source: deccanchronicle.com