SHILLONG, JUNE 16: Meghalaya government has filed an appeal in the Meghalaya high court challenging its recent ruling that Bangladesh nationals settled in the state before March 24, 1971 should be treated as Indians and enrolled in the electoral rolls.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi District has filed an appeal in the Meghalaya high court on its recent ruling,” deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh, who also holds law portfolio, said while replying to a call attention in the assembly on Monday.
On May, the Meghalaya high court in its order ruled that persons who came to India on or before March 24, 1971 are Indian citizens.
While moving the call attention, opposition UDP legislator Titus Chyne said there is a rise in illegal immigration from Bangladesh which sometimes is the handiwork of some individual just to create their vote bank.
“I will not allow myself to be elected by foreigners. My election will be illegitimate if I am to be elected by foreigners,” Chyne said while pointing out that the issue is of a concern for everybody as the ngos and even outfits have raised their voice on the security of the identity of the indigenous.
Chyne said, “When I speak of this, am not trying to be communal but it is our duty to protect our own identity.” Pointing out the case of Assam and Tripura where the locals are already becoming minority in their own land, he said, “We don’t want Meghalaya to be like other states.”
Chyne further questioned as to how will the state government differentiate or identify between Bangladeshis who came before 1971 and those who came after 1971. He queried, “What are the criteria to proof whether they came before or after 1971. This is a matter of concern.”
It may be mentioned that 40 persons from Bangladesh who had settled in Amjong village under Mawhati constituency, Ri-Bhoi district had filed a petition in the high court after their names were not included in the electoral roll and their citizenship certificates issued by the Government of India were seized by the Ri Bhoi deputy commissioner on the ground that they are doubtful Indian citizens.
Meghalaya high court also directed the Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District to return the citizenship certificates of the petitioners within a week from the date of receipt of the order and enrolled their names in the electoral roll before the next election.
According to the court as per the affidavit filed by the state it is an admitted fact that the fore fathers of the petitioners came to India in 1961 and they have been allowed to rehabilitate temporarily and if it is so, definitely they have shifted to India much more prior to 1971.- By Our Reporter
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