Guwahati (Assam) [India]: Given the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure that no illegal enters the North Eastern states from Bangladesh and also requested not even a single Bangladeshi should be granted asylum or rehabilitate in the entire North East region.
In a letter sent to the Union Home Minister, NESO said that, at this juncture, it is also imperative for the Government of India to ensure that the border between North East India and Bangladesh is thoroughly and strictly manned to detect attempted illegal migration from across the border.
North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) is a conglomeration of eight student bodies representing the seven states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura and comprises the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF).
“The NESO would like to draw your attention to the tumultuous events in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh where a civil war-like situation is taking place. Such a situation can have serious ramifications in India, especially in the North East Region where four states share a common international boundary with Bangladesh. Tripura shares a boundary of 856 kilometres with Bangladesh, Meghalaya shares a 443 km long boundary, Mizoram shares a 318 km long boundary and Assam has a common boundary of 262 km with Bangladesh.
The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh will and may lead to an exodus of its nationals into our country especially in the North East region. Past events indicate that whenever there is a civil war or a riot in Bangladesh, the North East region always had to bear the brunt of mass illegal immigration from the country,” the North East Students’ Organisation said in the letter.
It also stated that, during partition in 1947, lakhs of Bengalis from East Pakistan illegally crossed the border and forcibly occupied lands in Assam and Tripura (then a Union Territory).
“Similarly in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, again lakhs and lakhs of East Pakistanis, migrated into India territory including North East India creating a demographic imbalance, especially in the states of Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya (then a part of the composite state of Assam). This unabated flow of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh (East Pakistan) brings forth an air of tension and stiff competition in the North East.
The North East region is home to a plethora of Indigenous communities which are microscopic in numbers and live amongst their communities in traditionally marked territories,” said the letter.
“The arrival of millions of illegal foreigners from other countries led to a contestation of space, forced cultural assimilation, economic competition and distrust between the indigenous populace and the foreigners. These illegal foreigners settled in the lands of the indigenous communities without the consent of the community leaders and thus created a sense of animosity between the two groups. The illegal settlement of these millions of foreigners led to a drastic alteration of the demographic structure in most regions of the seven North Eastern states. Owing to the small populations of indigenous communities, the illegal foreigners overwhelmed the minuscule indigenous populace overnight,” said the letter.
“Land grabbing became the order of the day and the traditional way of life of the natives is being outrightly disregarded by these migrant foreigners whose ulterior motive is to forcibly carve a new homeland in the region at the cost of the dignity of the indigenous populace.
Tripura, under the onslaught of mass migration since 1947 saw a dramatic rise in Bangladeshi populations leading to the native tribal population being reduced to a mere 30 per cent in their homeland and state. This even led to the snatching of political power by these immigrants and the native tribals have become second-class citizens,’ said the letter.
“The tribal citizens of Tripura have to face discrimination, violence and marginalisation daily. It is worth noting that Assam has and is still experiencing a mass influx of illegal migrants which led to a six-year-long Assam Movement, causing martyrdom to 860 lives which eventually led to the signing of the historic Assam Accord which promised to deport illegal Bangladeshis from Assam. Similarly, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh witnessed mass movements in the past and till date demanding the immediate deportation of all foreigners from their states after migrants overwhelmed the indigenous communities in many pockets of their respected states,” said the letter.
The Students’ Organisation of North East also said that such unabated flow of immigrants into the region thus led to insecurity, agitations, riots and clashes between these foreigners and the indigenous people.
“Therefore, the NESO humbly seeks your immediate intervention to ensure that no illegal enters the North Eastern states from Bangladesh and also requests that not even a single Bangladeshi should be granted asylum or rehabilitated in the entire North East region. At this juncture, it is also imperative for the Government of India to ensure that the border between North East India and Bangladesh is thoroughly and strictly manned to detect attempted illegal migration from across the border. That Sir, this appeal is made for the overall interest, welfare and safeguarding of the microscopic indigenous people of North East India and NESO is looking forward to a positive and swift response from your esteemed office,” said in the letter.