Mizoram: PRISM seeks deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants
News Desk:
A newly-floated political party, People Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM), on Monday 30th june wrote to Mizoram home minister Lalchamliana, seeking deportation of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants from the state.
In a letter addressed to the home minister, PRISM said the Centre is trying to re-introduce the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was strongly opposed by political parties and civil societies alike.
“We strongly urge you to deport Bangladeshi illegal immigrants before the Centre re-introduces the Citizenship bill,” the letter said.
The letter also said that PRISM has been strongly opposing the Bill as it will grant citizenship to the Bangladeshi foreigners, who are illegally living in the state for decades.
Before the Lok Sabha polls in April, the party had used “secession” as its poll plank to fight the citizenship bill. It had said that the party, if elected, would introduce “Right to Secession Bill” in Parliament if the Centre re-introduces the citizenship bill, owing to which the Election Commission served show cause notices, seeking clarification from the party over its poll plank.
Between January and April this year, massive protests were held in Aizawl under the aegis of civil societies and student bodies against the citizenship bill, which seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who entered India by December 2014.
During the protest rallies, protesters carried placards, saying “Hello China, Bye Bye India” to convey their plights as well as desire to secede from India if the Centre go ahead with implementation of the citizenship bill against the interest of the people.
On February 12, former chief minister and Congress leader Lal Thanhawla was seen with protesters carrying a placard: “Welcome Independent Republic of Mizoram”.
Leaders of civil societies alleged that the Bill is dangerous for Mizoram, where thousands of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants live.