NRC in Mizoram: Bill Awaits Governor’s Assent

Aizawl, November 28, 2019:

The youth arm of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has requested Mizoram Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai to give his assent to the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill (MMHRB), 2019, a citizenship exercise similar to Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC).

In a memorandum submitted to the Mizoram Governor, the ZPM’s youth arm said that the MMHRB aims to check the influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. It may be mentioned here that the Bill was unanimously passed in the Mizoram Assembly earlier in March.

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The citizenship exercise seeks to create a register comprising the names, photos and other specifics of the residents of Mizoram. The purpose is to detect illegal immigrants in the state and prevent them from accessing developing benefits meant for the indigenous people.

The memorandum also cited the need to boost trade ties with Myanmar and Bangladesh. The ZPM youth wing further urged the Governor to settle the border dispute with neighboring Assam, besides settling the Bru repatriation issue.

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It may be mentioned here that the Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill awaits Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai’s assent to turn into an Act.

Mizoram is preparing the Bill to check the large-scale influx of foreigners and their settlements with the permanent residents in the state.

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