Senior figure in the state Congress Party, Manuel Badwar, has said that mass migration is a threat to the indigenous population of Meghalaya but the state government is ignoring the issue.
“This is a problem that has affected many countries and not only ours. We can see the effect on the cultural fabric of the society in the countries having immigration issues,” he said.
When it comes to Meghalaya, where the indigenous tribes’ population is a mere 30 lakh, the issue of immigration will have an adverse effect if not regulated and processes put in place.
He also said that there is a need for a state law to look into the problem of mass immigration, especially with the present situation in Bangladesh.
He also fully rejected laws like the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which opens a pathway for illegal migrants to become citizens of India depending on whether they meet religious requirements.
“I don’t see much being done by the state to look into this problem that could hurt our social fabric. This might not have much impact now but we have to be farsighted and see the danger of what could happen after 30-40 years,” Badwar added.
He also said that the pressure groups are more concerned about this issue, but the least action is seen from the government side.
He also said that the state could not keep waiting for the central government to approve laws like the MRSSA, ILP, etc, but it has to formulate other mechanisms and take this as a priority.
“Our leaders cannot be short-sighted and self-interested and keep entertaining people who are least bothered about issues like these but to come up with a strong mechanism that will protect the state from all aspects,” he added.
The Congressman said that it would be easier for anyone to come to the state through a proper procedure, but if things are not transparent, then it becomes harder for everyone.
