Identify illegal immigrants before delimitation: MP Sanajaoba
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 27 2025: Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has appealed to the Government of India to detect and deport illegal immigrants before making any alterations to the existing electoral constituencies of Manipur.

Highlighting concerns over the abnormal increase in villages in certain districts of the state during the Zero Hour in Thursday's sitting of the Upper House, he cautioned that any change in the electoral boundaries without addressing the issue of illegal immigration could lead to demographic imbalance, jeopardising future of the indigenous communities.

With deep concern, Sanajaoba pointed out that between 1969 and 2024, the number of villages in Kuki-populated districts of Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, and Pherzawl had surged from 731 to 1,624, marking an abnormal increase of 893 villages or 122 per cent within a span of about 50 years.

In stark contrast, the number of villages in the Naga-inhabited areas saw only a marginal increase of 49 villages, from 527 to 576, reflecting a mere 9 per cent rise.

"This drastic disparity indicates nefarious activities carried out by a particular community to capture political gain in Manipur," he contended.

Sanajaoba also raised concerns that illegal immigrants are attempting to penetrate the Indian administration and influencing electoral politics by exploiting the porous Indo-Myanmar international border.

"Illegal immigrants are not only infiltrating our borders but are also playing electoral politics to manipulate the democratic process in Manipur," he claimed.

The MP warned that any process of altering electoral constituencies, including the delimitation process, should be preceded by the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants.

"Before proceeding further for any kind of alteration like the delimitation process in the existing electoral constituencies, it is mandatory to detect the illegal immigrants first, by implementing NRC with base year 1951 and deport them to their respective countries," he stressed.

Sanajaoba underscored that failing to address the issue of illegal immigration before altering the electoral boundaries could lead to dire consequences for the indigenous people of Manipur.

"This will be the only logical solution, otherwise the state of Manipur will have a huge demographic imbalance and the indigenous people will suffer a lot in their own homeland, and their future will be at stake," he maintained.

The BJP MP reasoned that due to the present law and order situation in Manipur, it will not be conducive to make any alteration in the existing electoral constituencies of the state.

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