Kohima: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Monday staged a sit-in, demanding the eviction of illegal immigrants from the region.
The protest was held under the banner of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the apex students’ body of the northeastern region, at Naga Solidarity Park in Kohima.
During the demonstration, NESO general secretary Mutsikhoyo Yhobu and NSF president Medovi Rhi submitted a memorandum to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio through the Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, raising serious concerns over the issue of illegal immigration in the region.
The memorandum described illegal migration as a major threat to the region’s “socio-cultural fabric, demographic balance, and political stability.”
“Today, the problem has only deepened and Assam is witnessing radical change in its demographic structure,” the memorandum stated, adding that the issue has also spilled over into other parts of the region.
The student leaders claimed that the issue, which has already caused significant demographic changes in Assam, is now affecting other parts of the Northeast as well.
The students’ body stressed that despite multiple appeals, the central government has failed to take comprehensive and long-term measures. The NSF has urged both the Centre and the states to treat the matter with urgency, warning that the identity, culture, and very existence of indigenous peoples in the North East were at stake.
It demanded immediate detection and deportation of illegal migrants while also sealing of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
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The NSF also stressed strengthening border control with modern surveillance and adequate security deployment, and also developing inter-state coordination to prevent relocation of migrants within the region.
