AIZAWL: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has reportedly secured assurance from Home Minister Amit Shah that no refugee would be repatriated to Myanmar until normalcy is restored in the neighbouring nation.
The Home Minister, however, stressed that since “it is a mandatory requirement” to have biometric registration for all foreigners residing in India as per the rule, he urged the Chief Minister to ensure compliance, a national news agency reported.
Lalduhoma, who concluded his three-day visit to New Delhi on Friday, met with the central leadership to discuss various pressing issues affecting Mizoram, including the challenges posed by refugees and internally displaced people from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Manipur.
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Earlier, during the Chief Minister’s maiden visit to the national capital after assuming power in December, he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his former batchmates during their civil services days, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on January 4.
The national press reported that his discussions with central leaders revolved around the refugee crisis and the state’s financial challenges.
Recently, the newly elected Zoram People’s Movement government granted approval for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe state offenses to address the issue of corruption.
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Post his meeting with PM Modi, Chief Minister Lalduhoma described the interaction as “productive” and said that it focused on their shared commitment to Mizoram’s development.
Mizoram currently shelters over 31,300 Myanmar nationals, who sought refuge in the state following the military coup in their home country.
The Chin community, sharing ethnic ties with the Mizos, forms a significant part of this refugee population.
Additionally, Mizoram has been dealing with an influx of over 9,000 internally displaced people from strife-torn Manipur since an ethnic clash in May 2023.
The Mizoram government had previously urged the Centre for financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to aid the internally displaced people from Manipur, but action is yet to be taken.
