Shillong: The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended its gratitude to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Home Minister Amit Shah, for issuing a 30-day deadline to all states to identify and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
In an official statement, the BJP Meghalaya unit said the issue of unchecked infiltration, often facilitated by local touts and political parties, has persisted for too long, resulting in significant demographic changes across various regions, including Meghalaya.
The party expressed concern over the adverse impacts of illegal immigration in the state, particularly in urban centres such as Shillong.
It alleged that unauthorised migrants from neighbouring countries are placing pressure on the state’s resources and contributing to a deteriorating law and order situation.
The BJP also claimed that a rise in petty crimes is linked to the influx of these migrants, some of whom, it argued, hold anti-India sentiments.
While acknowledging recent efforts by the state government to identify and act against illegal immigrants, the BJP stated that such action should have been initiated earlier, independent of Central directives.
It noted that although task forces exist in each district to identify unauthorised settlers, their effectiveness has been limited, as evidenced by the increasing presence of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants in the state.
The party has called on the state government to overhaul these district-level task forces and expand their scope by involving local headmen and traditional institutions (dorbars) to assist in identifying non-locals.
ALSO READ: Malaysia Masters: Prannoy, Karunakaran pull off big wins; Sindhu falls early
According to BJP Meghalaya, once identified, competent authorities should take over investigations and follow due process.
Additionally, the party reiterated its demand for the immediate and full implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), describing it as a vital legal safeguard against unauthorised migration that remains largely unutilised.
The BJP state unit also announced plans to send a delegation to engage in consultations with the state Home Ministry.
