Guwahati: The recent resignation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has triggered concerns of a Myanmar-like influx into India’s Northeast, particularly affecting states such as Tripura and Assam. The fear stems from the historical context of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which saw a massive influx of refugees into these regions.
As reports of Hasina’s resignation circulated, Pradyot Deb Barma, the chief of the Tipra Motha party in Tripura, voiced his worries about border security. Deb Barma highlighted the potential repercussions for Tripura, West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Assam due to the growing “strong anti-India sentiment” in Bangladesh.
Hours later, Deb Barma announced that he had spoken with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “Amit Shah assured that the borders of India are well protected and no illegal influx will be allowed. He is monitoring the situation and asked our forces to remain vigilant at the borders,” Deb Barma posted on X. Tipra Motha, an ally of the BJP government in Tripura, has been vocal about the impact of migration on the indigenous population, claiming that they have become minorities due to the influx of Bengalis from Bangladesh.
Spoken to the Hon Home minister @AmitShah who has assured all that the borders of India are well protected and no illegal influx will be allowed . He is monitoring the situation and asked our forces to remain vigil at the borders
— Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) August 5, 2024
BSF officials have confirmed that personnel guarding the 4,096 km borders with Bangladesh across Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam have been put on high alert to prevent any potential influx due to the unrest. “There is a possibility of an influx of Hasina’s party workers,” a security official in Tripura informed the media.
Myanmar-like Influx
The region has previously experienced a similar situation when Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland witnessed an influx of “refugees” and “pro-democracy protesters” following the military coup in Myanmar in early 2021. Over 35,000 individuals, including MPs and ministers, continue to seek refuge in Mizoram due to ongoing conflicts in Myanmar. This influx has been cited as a contributing factor to the conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur, with Meiteis expressing concerns over an identity crisis as the Kukis have provided shelter to a significant number of Chin-Kuki migrants from Myanmar.
The Old Fear in Assam
The Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional party formed out of the anti-CAA agitation in 2020, expressed concerns on Monday about an increase in immigration into Assam due to the unrest. The party highlighted that some border areas with Bangladesh remain unfenced despite longstanding demands.
“Immediate steps must be taken to prevent influx as Assam cannot take further burden of illegal migrants. The BJP-led government has failed to fence the borders, identify and expel the foreigners as agreed in the Assam Accord of 1985. The National Register of Citizens (NRC), which sought to detect all post-1971 immigrants, has still not been implemented. The fear of infiltration has increased after the Narendra Modi government implemented the CAA that seeks to welcome the non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, till 2014,” stated AJP general secretary, Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
Gogoi, who was previously the general secretary of the All Assam Students’ Union, which led the anti-foreigners movement between 1979 and 1985, emphasized that the issue of “foreigners” remains a significant political concern in Assam. He noted that indigenous people fear becoming minorities in their own state due to the potential for a large number of migrants to gain Indian citizenship through the CAA.
The unrest in Bangladesh has rekindled fears of a significant influx of refugees into Northeast India, reminiscent of the 1971 crisis. With heightened border security measures and assurances from Amit Shah, the Indian government aims to prevent illegal immigration and maintain regional stability amidst the ongoing turmoil in the neighboring country.
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