‘Would Be Identified And Deported’: Manipur CM Biren Singh Plans To Deport Post-1961 Settlers

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh declared on Monday that individuals who arrived and settled in the state after 1961 would be identified and deported, irrespective of their caste or community, with an aim to protect the ethnic communities amid persistent tensions since May 2023.

Speaking at the launch of a skill development program, Singh highlighted the urgency of addressing the state's struggle for existence and cultural identity. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring a secure future for Manipur's residents.

“Those who entered and settled in the state after 1961, irrespective of castes and communities, would be identified and deported,” Singh said during the launch of ‘Project Buniyaad’.

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The decision follows the Manipur Cabinet's approval in June 2022 to designate 1961 as the base year for determining the "native status" of state residents for implementing the inner line permit effectively.

“We are passing through troubled times. The crisis we are facing today is one of struggle for existence, survival, and identity. The properties and identity, inherited over centuries, have now become insecure due to the lack of vision of certain politicians. Our generation is insecure today, so the government is working to make your future secure,” he added.

Singh stressed that the crisis facing Manipur demands immediate attention, underscoring the need to secure properties and identities threatened by political uncertainty.

Naga leader and Forum for Restoration of Peace convenor Ashang Kashar expressed concerns regarding the state government's deportation plan, highlighting the necessity of international cooperation and proper identification processes for immigrants.

“Identification of immigrants is crucial. Those who would be identified as illegal immigrants should not have the rights enjoyed by the original inhabitants. For instance, they should not have voting rights,” he said.

Singh referenced Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement regarding the termination of the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime, affirming its role in addressing internal security and demographic concerns.

The government's measures, including erecting fences and revoking the FMR, aim to combat illegal immigration and curb illicit activities like drug trade and weapons trafficking, Singh stated.

Political analyst Pradip Phanjoubam raised concerns about the feasibility of deportation, highlighting the necessity for foreign countries to accept immigrants as their citizens for successful repatriation.

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"In order to deport illegal immigrants, the foreign country concerned must accept them as their bonafide citizens. If the foreign country does not recognise the immigrants as their citizens, how will they be deported?" Pradip Phanjoubam, a political analyst, told news agency PTI.