Silchar (Assam): Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Barak Valley on February 20, the Barak Democratic Front has issued an open letter raising sharp questions on illegal infiltration, border management and the long-pending completion of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in Assam.
In the letter dated February 16, the organisation welcomed Shah’s upcoming visit to the region, describing Barak Valley as an area facing long-standing socio-economic challenges and underdevelopment.
The group said it expects concrete plans and projects from the Centre to address deprivation and ensure development of the region on par with the rest of the country.
Referring to the Home Minister’s repeated public statements on illegal infiltration, particularly from Bangladesh, the Front questioned the effectiveness of border management and enforcement mechanisms.
It pointed out that infiltration, if occurring, must take place through international borders, which are under the responsibility of central security forces and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The BDF asked whether the continued presence of alleged infiltrators reflects systemic failures in border security and enforcement, and sought accountability from the Centre on the issue.
The Front also highlighted the unresolved NRC process in Assam, noting that around 19 lakh excluded cases remain pending.
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It said the logical conclusion of the NRC process would help resolve the infiltration issue in a transparent and lawful manner, but alleged that neither the Centre nor the state government has taken concrete steps to complete the process, despite substantial public expenditure.
In its letter, the group further demanded the publication of a white paper detailing how many illegal infiltrators have been detected and deported during the last ten years under the present government at both the Centre and in Assam.
The organisation urged the Home Ministry to address alleged lapses along the border, complete fencing work, install modern electronic surveillance systems, and fast-track the completion of the NRC process.
Warning against what it described as “political rhetoric” on infiltration, the Barak Democratic Front said that repeated statements without concrete action risk being perceived as vote-bank politics, and called for policy-driven solutions instead of political messaging.
The letter was issued by Pradip Dutta Roy, Chief Convener of the Barak Democratic Front, along with other office-bearers of the organisation.
