SHILLONG: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has called for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens in the entire North East following a similar exercise in Assam. NESO also felt that the modalities in this regard can be worked out by respective states as political situation is different.
A meeting was held to discuss the matter by NESO, All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the KSU in the city on Sunday.
NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa told reporters that there was a need to update NRC in all the states in the North East to gauge the quantum of problem the region is facing. Jyrwa reminded that the demand regarding NRC update was nothing new. KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said while the union demands an NRC-like exercise in Meghalaya, the modalities can be different from Assam. “The political situation in Assam and Meghalaya may be different but the government should work out the modalities for a similar exercise in Meghalaya too,” he added.
Check gates justified
Thabah has justified the KSU’s move to set up check gates after the publication of NRC draft in Assam due to the apprehension that some of the 40 lakh persons who were left out might enter Meghalaya.
“We had no other choice but to put up our own check gates but the government assured us that the infiltration check gates will be strengthened with more manpower,” Thabah said.
Safety assured
On the harassment to residents from Silchar, who entered Meghalaya recently, AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said there should not be any cause for worry for genuine Indians entering Meghalaya.
“Genuine Indians should not fear and they can contact KSU, NESO or AASU,” Bhattacharya said.
He said the NRC was a document to protect the identity of the indigenous people of the North East.
On those who will be left out when the final NRC list is published, Bhattacharya asserted that both India and Bangladesh should sign a bilateral treaty to deport illegal immigrants.
NESO and AASU also offered help to the indigenous people whose names did not appear in the draft list. “We will ensure that their names appear in the final NRC,” he said.
Bhattacharya assured that AASU and KSU would address the issue of non inclusion of Khasis residing in Barak Valley in the NRC draft list.
Mamata slammed
Bhattacharya has asked parties and their leaders to desist from politicising and communalising the NRC exercise. “Trinamool Congress should learn a lesson from the problem in the North East and save West Bengal from being swamped by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh,” he said.
“Bangladeshis are also entering West Bengal. Concentrate more on securing your borders,” he added.
The AASU adviser pointed out that there is a propaganda going on that NRC was anti-Bengali or anti-Muslim.
“This is a propaganda by some political leaders of the country. I want to tell such leaders that India is for Indians and Assam and the rest of North East is also for Indians and not for illegal Bangladeshis,” Bhattacharya said.
He asserted that NRC update was against illegal Bangladeshis and not against any Indian.
Parliament discussion
The AASU adviser deplored that political parties did not take up the issue of illegal immigrants in Parliament.
According to Bhattacharya, the influx is a grave situation and what’s happening in the North East should be discussed in Parliament.
