NE States renew call for NRC-like database

A'ZAWL/SH'LONG/IMP/AGARTALA, Sep 1
The publication of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam on Saturday has led to renewed calls for a similar exercise in at least three North Eastern States - Christian-majority Meghalaya and Mizoram, and Manipur.
Mizoram is ruled by Mizo National Front (MNF), an NDA ally, while Meghalaya is under National People's Party (NPP), which has BJP as an alliance partner. Manipur is under BJP rule. The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) - the apex students' body of Mizoram - expressed its desire to have foreigners' tribunals and an NRC to detect and deport foreigners illegally living in the State. MZP president L Ramdinthara Renthlei said it wanted implementation of NRC in Mizoram, but the cut-off year should be as enshrined in the Constitution.
The NGO Coordination Committee - a conglomerate of major civil societies and student associations in Mizoram - echoed MZP. "The general conference of Young Mizo Association (YMA) held last year had adopted a resolution favouring the implementation of NRC in the State," said Vanlalruata, chairman of the committee and president of the central committee of the powerful YMA.
Manipur, which recently saw a multi-pronged public campaign to protect its own indigenous population, also remained on alert on Saturday. The State has seen a sustained public campaign for something like Inner Line Permit (ILP) - currently in place in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram - to control the flow of outsiders and protect the indigenous population. Bowing to the campaign, the State Government passed the Manipur People Bill (MPB), 2018, in the Assembly but it is awaiting Presidential assent.
The Meghalaya Government, meanwhile, said it had adopted a 'wait-and-watch' policy. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, "All measures have been taken to secure law and order and people do not need to worry."
Nagaland, which recently extended ILP to Dimapur (it was out of the purview of ILP), had also announced that it would create an NRC-like register to safeguard its indigenous people.
However, the modalities of the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants Certificates of Nagaland - as the register is being called - have not been laid down yet.
Tripura BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee said, "Indian States are different as far demographic profile is concerned. In Assam, NRC was badly needed because of huge unauthorized influx, but this is not the situation of Tripura."