NESO demands new immigration law to check infiltration

Shillong, Aug 5 (UNI) The North East Students' Organisation (NESO) has demanded the Centre to introduce a new immigration law to check the in-flow of illegal immigrants into the country.

''We need a new immigration law to tackle influx of Bangladeshi nationals in the North East,'' NESO Chairman Samujjal Bhattacharya told UNI here today.

The student's body took this decision during the two-day NESO conference that ended yesterday here.

The student's leaders held a threadbare discussion on influx, education, inter-state border disputes and peace process in the NE.

''The Centre must take effective mechanism to deport all the illegal Bangladeshi nationals from the region in the interest of the indigenous people,'' Mr Bhattacharya said demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit in the region to tackle infiltration.

The NESO's demand assumed significance in the wake of large number of Bangladeshi nationals entering the Indian territory.

Stating that influx posed a huge threat to the indigenous people of the NE, said the apex student's body in the region had decided to ask all the state governments in the region to deport all illegal foreigners immediately.

Accusing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his failure to solve the problem, the student leader said, ''Dr Manmohan Singh has the heart for Rajya Sabha seat from Assam instead of having the heart to solve the various problems of the region.'' On the issue of inter-state border dispute, Mr Bhattacharya said it was unfortunate that the Centre had failed to settle the problem between various states.

He also said the NESO would pursue its policy for a better understanding of the problem by the states, concerned to assure at an amicable solution in the issue.

The body also demanded scrapping of all 'draconian' and 'black' laws, including the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), from the region.

The NESO also demanded to set up more technical institutions in the North Eastern states.

UNI