SHILLONG: Political parties have suggested the need to have National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Meghalaya.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, UDP president Donkupar Roy said there should be a mechanism to differentiate between the citizens of the country and non-citizens in Meghalaya too.
“Every state should carry out the exercise of segregating the genuine citizens and the foreigners,” Roy said.
Congress MLA PT Sawkmie, in a statement, said the state government may consider implementation of NRC in the state to avoid illegal immigration.
“Even the president of BJP Amit Shah said the next step is to implement NRC in West Bengal and Karnataka. Therefore, the state government may discuss this issue with the Union government,” he said.
He added that since the infiltration check gates to prevent influx of illegal immigrants have proved to be inefficient, the best method is NRC in the state.
KHNAM leader Pyndapbor Saiborne said an NRC-like exercise will be beneficial to the state since it will protect the minority tribes in the state.
“We support such a move. We will write to the state government on this. The cut-off year should be 1971. It has been our demand ever since the time when we were with the Khasi Students’ Union,” he added.
He said the party will also demand more check gates.
Though the NRC exercise was completed during the current BJP-led government in Assam, the state BJP is yet to make clear its stand.
BJP general secretary Banshailang Khongwir said the party will discuss on the matter in a meeting.
The NPP-led government is not averse to implementing effective mechanisms to check influx.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong recently said the immediate priority of the government would be to complete the entry and exit points as part of the comprehensive mechanism to curb influx and illegal immigration
