Identification and deportation of illegal immigrants AMSU sets deadline to implement 1980, 1994 accords

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 28 : The All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) has resolved to launch a series of democratic agitation if the Government fails to implement the agreements signed in 1980 and 1994 to identify and deport illegal immigrants by April 2026.
At least six resolutions were passed concerning the issue of illegal immigrants during a one-day discourse held today at GP Women’s College, as a part of the 46th Realisation Month.
Held under the theme "Accords & Agreements on Identification, Detection & Deportation of Foreigners between AMSU & Government of Manipur/Government of India on 22nd July & 5th August 1980 and 9th November 1994," the discourse was moderated by renowned demographer RK Narendra and AMSU president Lukram Malangba,  
During the programme, the panellists recommended leaving out Manipur from the upcoming 2027 census under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948.
They also demanded implementation of the two agreements signed between AMSU and the Government of Manipur/Government of India on 22nd July & 5th August 1980 and 9th November 1994, within April 2026.
If the Government fails to implement the agreements, the student community, along with the general public, may resort to various forms of democratic agitation, said another resolution.
Urging the Government to initiate the process of identifying, detaining, and deporting illegal foreign immigrants, the panel members suggested that the Government could arrange tempo- rary refugee camps in larger, more viable States, where foreign populations would not be able to destabilise the indigenous population if there arises any difficulty in deporting the foreign Nationals immediately due to the adverse circumstances in the parent countries (crisis in Myanmar etc).
They further urged the Government to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or adopt any other suitable mechanism to detect and deport illegal immigrants before proceeding with the census exercise.
Additionally, the panel members called on the Central Government to remove the names of identified or suspected foreign immigrants from the electoral rolls and to stop providing Constitutional protections or benefits whether in cash or kind to detected, identified, or suspected illegal immigrants.
The resolution also emphasized that reservations for jobs or welfare schemes should not be extended to illegal immigrants.
Former AMSU president (1980-81) L Dilip, Advocate Y Priyokumar (former AMSU president 1988-89 and general secretary 1980-81) and Dean of School of Life Sciences, Manipur University Prof N Mohilal (former AMSU president 1993-94) spoke at the event as resource persons.
During the programme, the experts reviewed the agreements signed in 1980 and 1994 between AMSU and the Government, aimed at resolving the issue of illegal immigrants.
The experts also discussed the alarming growth of immigrant population, which has posed a serious threat to the indigenous communities.
Speaking at the event, Malangba reflected on the "Go Back Foreigner" movement of 1980, which led to the signing of the agreements between AMSU and the Government to detect and deport illegal foreigners.
He noted that the agreements, however, have not been implemented to date, urging the Government to address the issue of  illegal immigrants as soon as possible.