Naga Hoho: Time Comes to Flush out Bangladeshi Immigrants
The Naga Hoho has said that the ¡°Bangladeshfactor¡± is a challenge to the north east regionof India and has come to a point where a Bangladeshi would even become ¡®chief minister¡¯. Telling on the scourge of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants in north east India, the Naga Hoho has declared that the time to flush them out has come. ¡°Over and above, the time has come for the North East States to unite together and flush out the illegal immigrants once and for all so as to safeguard our future from the hands of aliens,¡± the Naga Hoho stated in a statement issued through its publicity secretary C Daipao. ¡°The efforts to control the problem have been unsuccessful due to lack of political consensus on the issue. The influx of migrants has exacerbated existing social tensions in the region, put public services under strain and worsened the security situation.¡±
In spite of the serious demographic, economic, security and political ramifications of the illegal immigrants in the north-east, theNaga Hoho said, the issue continues to remain substantially outside the realm of the security discourse in the country. Illegal migration will remain a security challenge for India if no concrete actions are taken, including deporting and checking illegal immigration. ¡°Although the mass deportationof long-term immigrants is unrealistic, with the concerted efforts of North eastern states and the central government should enact a series of measures to control immigration in future,¡± the apex tribal Naga organization stated.
On the current communal tension vis-¨¤-vis threat and intimation against people of the NE States in the southern parts of India, the Naga Hoho reminded that the issue reminds of the challenge posed by illegal immigrants. ¡°In this regard, the Naga Hoho strongly feels that the prime Minister of India and every Chief Minister in the states should be sincere enough to protect the life and property of North Eastern people, or else, the people in mainland India have to stand clearly that NE states are not a integral part of India.¡± The Naga Hoho also expressed sympathy and solidarity with the students and professionalsof NE states in India who are under duress. The ¡®hoho¡¯ appeals for calm and ¡°not to be reactionary as one¡¯s career is more precious when they are away from home.¡±
The Naga organization said that the ¡°Bangladesh factor¡± remains a significant issue in north-east India. The process to check illegal migration in the north-east, which started during the British Empire, remains unfinished despite various efforts made at the national level, the ¡®hoho¡¯ stated. ¡°In fact, the overall Muslim population in the North East has grown from 16 to 18 per cent in 1950s and 1960s to over 40 per cent now.However, Bangladeshi infiltration remains unchecked and illegal immigration continues to be a sensitive issue, exploited by vested political interests,¡± the Naga Hoho stated. Theorganization quoted Assam¡¯s former Governor, Lt Gen. (Retd.) SK Sinha that ¡®if unabated infiltration of foreigners is allowed to continue, the situation in Assam will be worse than that of Kashmir in days to come and one should not be surprised if a Bangladeshi national manages to become thechief minister of the State.¡¯
Naga Hoho: Time Comes to Flush out Bangladeshi Immigrants | Northeast Today