SHILLONG: Several organisations in the state have expressed apprehension about the fallout of National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Meghalaya asserting that the state could become a safe haven for people left out of the citizen register in neighbouring Assam.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People’s (FKJGP) president Wellbirth Rani said that the infiltration check gate is not adequate enough to check influx because of insufficient manpower.
He said, “The question is about where they will go? They will never go back to Bangladesh. They will definitely enter neighbouring states and Meghalaya is one place which is easy to enter. Even the infiltration check gate is not effective.”
He maintained that almost all NGOs are not satisfied with the checking in the state.
Stating that it is necessary to control the unabated influx, Rani pointed out that Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari has also demanded NRC in Delhi.
“There is a need to filter non-genuine citizens. We are currently facing problems and we have to check it. Do we have to check the border only when there is a problem? We have to check before a problem arises. A wise CM and government will check before any untoward situation crops up,” he said.
He informed that the organisation has asked its members to conduct checks in the border areas and others that are vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the Hynniewtrep A’chik National Movement (HANM), West Khasi Hills District, has requested the presidents/secretaries of its different circles to be vigilant and on high alert considering the possibility of influx from Assam.
The general secretary of Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) central executive council, Roy Kupar Synrem, also said people excluded from the NRC will try to find refuge in the state.
He has directed the members of units, circles and districts to be alert especially about those coming from Assam to work or stay and that their antecedents need to be verified.
“We will soon meet the SPs of different districts to offer our help to work together with the police department to check illegal infiltrators,” president of HYC Robertjune Kharjahrin said.
