HYC Opposes Meghalaya Deputy CM’s Comment on MRSSA Bill 2020

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) criticized Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s recent comment suggesting that the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was being allowed to “die a natural death.” HYC views Tynsong’s remark as not only a political opinion but a reflection of the current government’s failure and an attempt to shift blame onto the former Mukul Sangma-led government. In a meeting in New Delhi between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a delegation from the state government, Meghalaya had proposed a provision within the Immigration and Foreigners Act to create a framework similar to the Inner Line Permit (ILP), thereby enabling the state to operate as a protected area. Tynsong described Shah’s response as positive. HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem emphasized the seriousness of Tynsong’s statement, asserting that legislative measures do not simply lapse but rather are either actively pursued or neglected. He criticized the MDA government’s apparent admission of their inaction regarding the MRSSA Bill, asserting that the bill’s lapse indicates a failure to exercise constitutional authority for amendments or reintroduction. The MRSSA Bill was first introduced in March 2020 and was returned by the Ministry of Home Affairs for review in November 2023; the government had assured the public of comprehensive re-examination, legal consultation, and stakeholder engagement regarding the legislation.