Guwahati: Chief Ministers of some northeastern states on Wednesday raised concerns over the long-standing problem of foreigners and illegal migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar to Home Minister Amit Shah during the 73rd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong.
Raising the issue, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, in a memorandum submitted to Shah, reiterated his government’s past demands to introduce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, similar to Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, in order to check the menace of foreigners.
The ILP was introduced under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873, which made a travel permit compulsory for an external visitor. The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 2019 had passed a resolution to introduce the ILP after Parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Act that followed widespread protests. There has been a strong demand for ILP in Meghalaya.
Sangma also sought the Centre’s approval for the Meghalaya Residents’ Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which sought to document the stay of visitors beyond 48 hours.
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh also highlighted illegal migration from Myanmar and people taking refuge due to unrest in the neighboring nation.
Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio highlighted the financial constraints the state was facing due to discontinuation of revenue deficit grants below 16thFinance Commission. “The Prime Minister requested the Government of India to provide special annual grants during the award period to ensure fiscal stability and continuity in governance and delivery of essential public services,” said a statement quoting Rio.
He also sought the Centre’s assistance for the construction of the proposed 364 km Trans-Nagaland Highway (Foothill Road) describing it as a critical infrastructure project with the potential to transform economic activity, improve connectivity and improve access to essential services in seven districts of the state, among other projects.
I hate CM Lalduhoma stated that connectivity in the Northeast should be pursued through a “Comprehensive Network Approach”, integrating roads, railways, air links, waterways, electricity, telecommunications and logistics into a coordinated development framework.
“With the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project nearing completion, the region should be institutionally and socially prepared to take advantage of emerging opportunities. He urged the Ministry of DNER to support investment readiness and trade readiness programs, skill development, entrepreneurship promotion, border infrastructure, tourism development logistics initiative through a common tourism circuit. Unified branding and facilitation mechanisms can emerge as a key gateway logistics and trade through the Act East Policy and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway,” he said.
Shah’s push for peace and development
Addressing the governors, chief ministers and officials, Home Minister Amit Shah said the Center established peace in the Northeast by signing 12 peace accords with armed groups and boosted infrastructure development since 2014. He asked the CMs to make the anti-narcotics campaign a mass movement, transform the region into a global manufacturing and export hub for timber and essential oil products.
