The BJP in West Garo Hills has urged the State government to implement a localised registration of citizens in line with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to check influx of illegal immigrants into the plain belts.
The localised registration could be carried out with a proposed cut-off date of 1990, in line with historical demographic benchmarks, it said.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, BJP district general secretary Peterjob A Sangma said that influx into the plain belts of Meghalaya has reached alarming proportions and poses significant demographic, social, and security challenges for the indigenous population and the overall administrative stability of the region.
Besides registration, Sangma also urged the government to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into influx and enhance border monitoring and verification protocols to prevent illegal encroachments and settlements.
“It is imperative to act swiftly to protect the interests of the indigenous communities and maintain the integrity and security of our state,” he said in the letter.
Sangma stated that over the years, especially since 1987, there has been a noticeable rise in migration patterns, particularly after the implementation of the NRC in Assam. “Many individuals who were excluded from the Assam NRC process and failed to produce valid documentation proving their nationality have reportedly crossed over and settled in various parts of the plain belt of Meghalaya,” he stated.
The BJP expressed surprise after reports and inquiries of the Civil Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Dadenggre brought to light the increasing number of job card holders after the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (COMSO) flagged the issue.
“This abrupt rise raises concerns about the unchecked and possibly unlawful entry of outsiders into the region. The data suggests that thousands of new job cards have been issued without proper scrutiny or verification. This raises the suspicion that non-residents, potentially from outside the state or even across the border, may be attempting to acquire official documents to establish themselves as citizens of Meghalaya,” the BJP said.
While natural calamities, such as the devastating floods that washed away large parts of South Salmara in Assam in the year of 1987, have also led to a surge in cross-border migration into Meghalaya, the BJP said, though humanitarian responses are necessary, the longterm unchecked settlement of such populations without legal scrutiny could strain our resources and alter the socio-cultural fabric of the region.
