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MEGHALAY May Go In For NRC To Protect State’s Demography

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has disclosed that the state Cabinet is examining updating the register for its citizens on the lines of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) initiated in neighbouring Assam. The Christian dominated Meghalaya has 275 km border with Bangladesh. Sangma said that issues related to rights and identity of the indigenous people of Meghalaya is one of the top priorities for the State government and it will take all possible steps to safeguard these..“However, the mechanism and how it would be done is something that is being examined,” he said replying at Guwahati query by media..Sangma was here to attend a function where 16 members of the Hills People’s Forum (Dima Hasao), including former legislator and Chief Executive Member of the NC Autonomous Council Samarjit Haflongbar formally joined the National People’s Party (NPP).Sangma also said that every State should be alert on the issue so that the rights of the indigenous people are not compromised with. The Meghalaya Chief Minister, who is also the national president of the four-year-old party, said that the NPP wants to expand its base across the region so that issues concerning the indigenous people do not remain unresolved by the central government  This is the first time that NPP has announced its presence in Assam. Earlier, after joining the NPP, Samarjit Haflongbar said that the idea behind joining the NPP is to address the issues of the indigenous people in the district.“We want to create a collective voice for the tribal people. The bold decision taken by the Meghalaya government vis-à-vis the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill inspired us to join the party. We have seen in the recent past that the powers enshrined in the VI Schedule of the Constitution have been diluted, against which we would continue to fight.”

CM Sangma  also  red-flagged the use of Bangladeshi SIM cards by BSF jawans posted along the international border and urged the Central government to give top priority to improve mobile connectivity in those strategic places. Speaking at the function organised for release of the ‘Digital North East Vision 2022’ , Sangma said the matter is of grave security concern. The Indian telecom companies do not provide strong network in the border areas, but Bangladeshi networks are available on the Indian, he said.“If network of the India companies crosses the border, they are penalized. That is why our private players are reluctant to put up towers along the border areas. But it is not so in case of Bangladeshi companies. Their network is available much within India territory. BSF jawans have no alternative but to Bangladesh SIM cards, Sangma, reports  The Assam Tribune (pic courtesy dailypost.in).

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