TURA: Criticism over Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma’s proposal to issue work permit to Bangladeshi nationals continue to pour in with the Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE) this time, strongly condemning the statement and terming it as an invitation for illegal influx into the state.
“This proposal will defeat the ‘purpose’ which has been maintained for so long by ADE and other NGOs against influx who are in favor of implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP). Instead of pressurizing the centre to enforce a stringent law to contain influx and resolving the border dispute at the earliest, the government wants to welcome people from outside the country to work in the state,” the association said.
It reminded that while the previous government had assured agitating NGOs that instead of ILP, a comprehensive mechanism to check influx would be set up, nothing concrete has been done at the ground level.
The association cited a newspaper report from Mizoram where it stated that a staggering 1.29 crore Bangladeshis who crossed over into the state with legitimate documents have vanished into thin air since 2000. It said that the case of neighbouring Assam was no different where many Bangladeshis had freely resided but disappeared, as soon as they were declared foreigners.
“Another reason why we believe the proposal of the Chief Minister would defeat its purpose is because we very well know their (Bangladeshis) modus operandi. To prolong their stay in India, they will marry local girls, thereby establishing close family contact with the locals which give them immunity of sorts from being deported,” the association added and urged the government to reconsider its proposal so that ethnic people of the region do not have to resort to agitation.