‘Protect demography by strict enrollment’

SHILLONG, MAR 12: United Democratic Party (UDP) demanded that the state government ensures a strict electoral roll enrolment process so that dubious voters are not included in the Electoral Roll (ER) and protect the demography of the state with only thirty lakhs population.

Taking part in a resolution moved by UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh on Thursday during the ongoing budget session of the Meghalaya assembly, party legislator Paul Lyngdoh suggested to the state government to identify “soft and troubled zones” and accordingly enforce stricter enrolment process to discourage dubious voters from getting into the ER.

Taking part in the resolution on the need to take appropriate steps to discourage enrolment of dubious voters, Lyngdoh pointed to the fact that Meghalaya share its  international border with Bangladesh and inter-state border with Assam, and the latter has dubious distinction of having 8 million Bangladeshis.

Lyngdoh said expressed fear that unless stringent measures are taken the fate of Meghalaya assembly will like that of Assam as legislators will sooner or later be influenced by voters who come from across the international border.”

Making a point Lyngdoh shared SMS  in the assembly wherein it said, “If you cross North Korean border, you will be sent to 12 years imprisonment, if you cross the Afghanistan border, you will be shot dead, if you cross the Chinese border, you will be kidnapped and never to be found again. However, if you cross the Indian border, you will get ration card, passport, driving license, voter’s identity card, government housing at low subsidy, free education and free healthcare.”

Lyngdoh also felt that if the Election department show the same kind of keenness that it showed during enrolment of electorates the demographic profile of the state can be protected..”

The mover of the resolution, UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh said the state government must be ‘extra-sensitive’ while enrolling voters because of the fear expressed by indigenous population that illegal immigrants may be listed in the ER.

Mawthoh said, “Once a dubious voter is able to sneak into the ER, it becomes a passport for him and slowly he can claim permanent citizenship, clam rights and privileges at a cost of genuine citizens’ right and this will create a demographic imbalance in the state.” He also questioned on  the full proof process of identification in the state.

Mawthoh also expressed doubt whether dubious voters can be check when the role of the traditional heads have been clipped by the high court.

Mawthoh also felt the government must examine Election Commission of India (ECI) directive that Indian citizens residing in a place for 6 months are eligible to enroll in the ER.  He said how can anyone staying for six months only get acquainted with both social and political systems of the place.

Mawthoh was of the opinion that genuine Indian citizens staying in Meghalaya for a short duration are interested only in basic necessities like LPG connection, bank account and others without production of EPIC card.

Mawthoh said the state government must take steps to  evolve mechanism with stakeholders including the traditional institutions to help plug loopholes in the enrolment process of the state.

Reply to the resolution, deputy chief minister-in charge election- Rowell Lyngdoh expressed doubt whether the fear perceived is a genuine. He said the state is making all efforts to see only genuine citizen are enrolled and various steps like involving various institutions to help the election machineries to deal with such problems had been taken.

The minister said Block Level Officers (BLOs) mostly locals are put in every polling station to help in examining and enquiring the genuineness of the voters besides other bodies and authorities as laid down by laws.

Pointing out that even political parties are involved in the process, the minister said the department requested them to sent their own respective Block Level Agents (BLAs) to help proper screening so that no dubious voters gets enrolled in the ER of the state.

But the deputy chief minister minister lamented that most political parties have not responded to the request except the HSPDP which had sent 2 BLAs and Congress more 100 BLAs. He said, “If they (political parties) are so interested but don’t send the BLAs it only shows that they are confident in the election department.”

Admitting that if the election machinery is defective the problem of illegal immigration will affect the state as a whole, the deputy chief minister revealed, “In Meghalaya, we have found out certain number of voters enlisted in Assam too, therefore rigorous monitoring is being done by the department.”

“We want to be free from dubious voters as said by the members,” the deputy chief minister added.

Mawthoh however objected to the deputy chief minister doubting the fear of the indigenous people and said, “It is not a perceive threat but a real threat when it comes to illegal immigrations. I reiterate that the case in Meghalaya and north east is different and wanted the government to take extra steps to ensure dubious voters do not get enroll in the ER.”

The deputy chief minister however invited suggestions from all members on what kind of measures they want to propose to the government for consideration.- By Our Reporter