SHILLONG: Cabinet Minister Hamlet Dohling has asked the citizens to act as watchdogs on any suspicious movement of illegal immigrants besides the existing laws.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the former Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) leader said laws such as Land Transfer Act and Benami Transfer Act are in place but it is up to the people to be vigilant.
“Besides the acts that the state has, the onus is also on the people. The people of urban areas and villages should be vigilant to not allow any suspicious looking people,” he said.
The Mylliem legislator said the state government will ensure that the interest of the minority community is protected so that the indigenous people are not swamped by the immigrants.
He said Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a strong mechanism to protect the indigenous people.
Dohling argued that Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not sudden but it was a long pending strategy of the BJP.
“It is the plan of the BJP to implement the Bill as the BJP will only think of vote bank politics. BJP is adamant and this is a dangerous sign,” he said.
He observed that the NPP which is leading the MDA alliance in the state should sever ties with the BJP, if the Bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha.