Shillong, Dec 29: The organisation HITO has written to the Chief Minister of Assam Mr. Himanta Biswa Sharma who is also the chairman, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), to urged for the extention Inner Line Permit (ILP) under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 to the entire North East region.
HITO in the letter stated that the remarks by Bangladesh’s Interim Head on NE Chicken Neck, they place on record our deep concern regarding certain remarks made by Mr. Muhammad Yunus, Interim Head and Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, during his visit to China approximately two months ago.
His statement claiming that Bangladesh is the “only guardian of the ocean” for the seven land-locked North Eastern States of India, coupled with habitual and repeated references to India’s strategic Siliguri Corridor (commonly referred to as the “Chicken Neck”), is not only misleading but also objectionable and inimical to India’s sovereignty and national interest.
The organisation also wish to record our agreement with your firm and timely reaction to these remarks, which resonated strongly with the people of the North East. It must be clearly stated that while Bangladesh seeks to draw attention to India’s Siliguri Corridor, Bangladesh itself has two narrow and far more vulnerable “chicken necks” of its own, making such commentary both provocative and strategically imprudent.
In the backdrop of the prevailing unstable political situation in Bangladesh, and the frequent arrests and detection of illegal Bangladeshi nationals across several North Eastern States, these statements acquire added significance and raise serious security, demographic, and socio-political concerns for the region.
In this context, we respectfully urge you, in your capacity as the Chairman of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), to take the lead in demanding the extension of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 to the entire North East region.
At present, ILP is applicable and mandatory in five States, namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram iv) Manipur, and Sikkim in the form of a Protected Area Permit).
Given the present circumstances, it has become imperative to uniformly extend the ILP regime to Meghalaya and Assam as well, and strengthen its framework across the region, so as to protect the indigenous peoples, their land, identity, and cultural heritage.
While we recognise that ILP is not a complete solution to infiltration and illegal immigration, it will certainly act as an important regulatory mechanism to partially control, monitor, and check the movement of illegal foreigners into the North East.
They sincerely hope that this collective call from the region will be taken forward by your Government and your party at the Centre, in the larger interest of national security, demographic balance, and the constitutional rights of indigenous communities of the North Eastern States, the letter was sign by its President Donbok Dkhar and Shaniah Nongrum Legal Secretary.
