Saha’s remarks come in the backdrop of rising pressure from the BJP’s ally, Tipra Motha, which has been demanding a stricter approach to identify illegal migrants who arrived in Tripura after 1971, based on the Indira-Mujib Accord.
The royal scion-led party has asked both the Centre and state to officially recognise these individuals as illegal immigrants.
Tipra Motha Pushes for Electoral Roll Purge
Tipra Motha, led by Pradyot Kishore Debbarman, has been spearheading a campaign for a complete overhaul of the electoral rolls to weed out foreigners who allegedly entered Tripura after 1971. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has invited the party for discussions on Wednesday to consider its proposals.
According to the report, as part of its campaign, Tipra Motha has formed district-level committees to identify such migrants, especially those suspected of using fake documents to settle in the state.
However, CM Saha made it clear that the BJP’s stance on illegal immigration differs significantly. He reiterated that only those who entered India by December 31, 2014, fleeing religious persecution, are eligible for citizenship under the CAA. Any individual arriving after that date would be treated as an illegal migrant, according to Union government rules.
State Steps Up Surveillance, Forms Task Forces
To bolster enforcement, the Tripura government has established a Special Task Force (STF) dedicated to identifying and acting against illegal migrants. District magistrates and police have been directed to step up monitoring, with increased cooperation between the state police, border security forces, and central agencies. In West Tripura district, a 15-member task force headed by the Superintendent of Police is already operational to trace and document suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals, TOI further reported.
While officials say a separate mechanism is being developed to manage identified migrants, it remains unclear if detention centres, like those used in Assam, will be part of Tripura’s approach.
Political Crossfire Over Migrant Identity
The debate over immigration has intensified in the region following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent comments in West Bengal about infiltration. TOI noted that the BJP-ruled states, including Tripura, are now moving swiftly to tighten border security and identify undocumented residents.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of unfairly targeting Bengali migrant workers, labelling them as Bangladeshis and attempting to deport them. Her party, the Trinamool Congress, has responded with strong rhetoric, defending Bengali identity and accusing the BJP of creating fear and division.
