Agartala: Tripura’s ruling BJP ally Tipra Motha delegation has been invited at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss their demand for extensive revision of electoral roll to identify illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar with the Election Commission of India (ECI), Motha founder and Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman said. Pradyot termed the development as a ‘huge victory’, and said ECI’s invitation validates the concerns repeatedly raised by Tipra Motha over the demographic change and security implications of unchecked cross-border migration.In recent years, infiltration from Bangladesh and Myanmar has emerged as the biggest threat to Tripura. The settlers of both tribal and non-tribal since the accession of Tripura to Indian union in Oct 1949 are the indigenous in the state, and thereafter, before creation of Bangladesh in 1971 were also considered as the legal settlers of the state.Whoever crosses over to Tripura after March 1971, according to Indian law, they are illegal immigrants, and they had managed to stay in the state, thereby creating a problem for the genuine citizens.However, soon after the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, India govt had issued order to all the states and territorial govt to flush out illegal immigrants, but it didn’t work in Tripura. Thereafter, in 2017 and 2021 similar orders were issued, but the then Left Front and BJP govt, respectively neither made it public nor executed the orders.On May 19 this year, the ministry of home affairs issued directives to all the state govts following Pahalgam incident to identify illegal migrants and deport them to their respective countries. Accordingly, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana have started implementing the order.Tripura has also formed a special task force to deal with illegal migrants and prevent infiltration. To identify the illegal migrants and their deportation, Tipra Motha, has launched a sustain campaign at community level and demanded ECI to go for extensive revision of electoral roll like Bihar.“We are trying to protect our next generation and looking beyond party politics. This is not just a fight of TIPRA Motha party but every Indian,” Pradyot said, adding that he also made a passionate appeal to rise above party politics and stand united against illegal migration, emphasising the need for a collective and nationalistic approach to the issue rather than treating it as a political agenda.
