Illegal immigrants increasing in Arunachal Pradesh: NESO leader

Itanagar: “Despite Arunachal being protected under Bengal Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, and Chin Hills Regulation, 1896, the number of illegal immigrants are increasing tremendously. People of Arunachal Pradesh have been raising their voice against Chakma-Hajong migrants for many decades, but no response has been seen so far from the central government,” said North East Students Organisation (NESO) coordinator Pritam Waii Sonam.

Speaking with EastMojo, Sonam said, “No doubt, people from other states cannot own a land or start a business. However, if CAB is implemented, the day is not so far when these will be scrapped and people from outside will rule us.”

Assam is the gateway to Northeast India, if Assam is affected by CAB then the whole of Northeast will be affected, he said.

The North East Student Organisation (NESO) along with all the member organisations held a joint meeting in Guwahati on Friday to chalk out their next course of agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019.

During the meeting, a decision to launch a series of democratic movement against the central government was taken.

Sonam informed that there will be an 11-hour North East Bandh from 5 am to 4 pm on December 10.

Component organisations of NESO, including All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF).

The CAB seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of stay in the country even if they do not possess proper documents.