Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has once again raised the issue of illegal immigrants in the state. He emphasized the need to safeguard our land and people, and affirmed his commitment to doing so. The CM mentioned that illegal immigration in Manipur is a serious concern that requires immediate attention.
The Chief Minister pointed out that a demographic review over the past two decades shows a rapid population increase in one community, connected to a previous government's controversial policy that allowed uncontrolled immigration from a neighboring country.
Minority in Our Own Land - CM
The Chief Minister warned that if this trend continues, it could jeopardize the future of our indigenous communities, potentially making our people minorities in their own land. He stressed the importance of addressing this issue collectively. Implementing strict immigration policies and safeguarding the state's demographic balance and cultural heritage is crucial.
The CM explained that in March 2023, a cabinet sub-committee led by Minister Letpao Haokip, along with other members, visited five hill districts to assess the situation of illegal immigration in the state. During this period, a total of 2,480 illegal immigrants from Myanmar were identified.
The state government was surprised by the discovery of such a large number of illegal immigrants in a short period. The identification process of illegal immigrants was halted when a sub-committee member reported ongoing firefights in the further villages.
Previous Statements
CM Biren Singh noted that even before the sub-committee began the identification process on the ground, hundreds of illegal immigrants had already been identified. They were housed in a special facility where their biometric data was collected.
The Chief Minister had recently informed the assembly that in the past five years, 10,675 illegal immigrants had been identified, and 85 individuals had been deported. Currently, 143 such individuals are in detention centers.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh revealed that the illegal immigrants are primarily from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Norway, China, and Nepal. His response came after MLA Surjakumar Okram's inquiry in the assembly. The CM also noted that maintaining these 143 individuals in detention centers costs Rs. 85,55,761.
