The National People’s Party (NPP) on Tuesday said the recent threats by certain elements in Bangladesh to seize and merge the states of the Northeast with Bangladesh should be taken seriously by the Government of India and not dismissed lightly. Speaking to reporters, NPP state working president Hamletson Dohling said that if the Centre is serious about addressing such threats, it must introduce strong laws and ensure the installation of barbed-wire fencing along the entire Meghalaya border. On the issue of border fencing, Dohling stressed the need for close coordination between the Government of India and local stakeholders, including landowners, Rangbah Shnongs, Sordars, and other traditional authorities, to ensure that the initiative is effective and successful in protecting the state from external threats.
Dohling said that the current border security arrangement in Meghalaya is relatively adequate, with the Border Security Force manning the international border and the state police discharging their respective duties. However, he cautioned that statements and threats emanating from across the border must not be taken lightly. “When such threats are issued from another country, both the Government of India and the state government must remain alert and prepared, as we do not know what may happen in the future,” he said. Addressing the issue of influx of outsiders, the NPP leader said this continues to be a serious challenge for Meghalaya.
He noted that the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has been at the forefront of agitations against unchecked migration since 1978 and expressed respect for the organisation and other pressure groups for consistently raising the issue. “What was spoken about in the past is now close to becoming a reality. There is a real threat to the states of the Northeast, including Meghalaya, due to the influx of outsiders, especially in view of the present situation in Bangladesh,” Dohling said.