By- Elangbam Johnson,
Just after 12.noon of 30th July, when the completed draft of the National Registrar of Citizenship (NRC) is published, around 30-40 lakhs of people would be rendered as stateless citizens in Assam. Again above this of the total of 3.9 applicants of NRC around 4 lakhs applications will be hold up for various reasons. In the background of all this happening Assam Govt has sought for another 150 companies of paramilitary forces to meet the likelihood of disrupting peace &law order situation of the state. Although, Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister has ruled out for immediate deportation for the moment but many are planning to move into the neighbouring states. This has created a panicking sense of uncertainty and insecurity to all the demographically threatened states of the North East States. At this critical hour, It is so surprising that Govt of Manipur hasn’t come up as of now with a contingency plan to stop this immediate influx of population from Assam in the background of all that is happening in Assam. It is high time now, that the state Govt has to sort out short and long term security policies to meet this impending threats likely to hit our state with full force. Stringent policing at the border check points and necessary deployment of police personnel must be started without any delay. And for the long term strategy Govt of India is saying that that there is going to be resettlement plan for these stateless peoples which obviously points fingers to nearby states like Manipur, So the state Govt has to prepare itself with necessary means and options to isolate Manipur from such Govt of India resettlement policy as we are already facing this acute crises of demographic imbalance where the indigenous peoples have almost become minority in our own state.
Above this there is also a great fear of another wave of population influx once the Citizenship Amendment Bill is passed by the Parliament where odd 50 lakhs of Hindu migrants will be allowed to come back into India where North East India will become a hot spot for them to settle. In view of this Govt must now try to bring forth a collective and joint understanding with all the adjoining states of Assam in meeting the challenges falling out of this new development which is going to affect the North Eastern States at large. All stakeholders including political parties cutting across party lines, Civil Societies Organisations , Community Leaders must join hand together along with the Govt to defend our state from this engulfing uncertainties altogether.
*** The writer is a Social Activist and Former President, United Committee Manipur (UCM).
