Unnatural growth of 996 new villages: Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 29 2024: Expressing grave concern over what he termed as an "unnatural growth" of 996 new villages in the state, chief minister N.Biren has attributed the surge to illegal immigration, and raised alarms about its potential implications for indigenous communities and national security.

In a post on X on Monday, CM Biren underscored the threat posed by the rapid expansion of these new settlements, and emphasised the need for immediate action to address the issue.

He questioned the acceptability of such demographic shifts caused by the influx of illegal immigrants while highlighting the profound impact on the state's socio-economic fabric.

The emergence of these new villages, fuelled by illegal immigration from Myanmar since 2006, presents a serious challenge to Manipur," Biren said, emphasising the need for concerted efforts to tackle the issue.

He pointed out that the creation of these settlements has not only led to the depletion of forest cover but also facilitated illicit activities such as poppy cultivation.

"Will anyone accept the unnatural growth of new villages and population, causing massive changes to the demography in their own state or country due to the influx of illegal immigrants? We're confronting a serious issue within our nation, especially in Manipur, where several new villages have emerged due to a massive influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar since 2006 till date.

During this period, massive forest cover have been destroyed to establish settlements as well as carry out poppy plantations," the CM wrote on X.Moreover, Biren also highlighted the encroachment on resources, job opportunities, and land, posing a direct threat to the rights of indigenous people in Manipur.

To address this pressing issue, the government has initiated measures including the collection of biometric data of illegal immigrants and the geo tagging of their settlements, he said.

"Not to mention, these illegal immigrants have started encroaching on the resources, job opportunities, land, and the rights of indigenous people.

We have started collecting biometric data of the illegal immigrants as well as geo-tagging of their settlements.

I appeal everyone in the country to support the government in keeping our Nation safe and secure from illegal immigrants," he further wrote.

"When the British Prime Minister recently asserted their unyielding commitment to deporting illegal immigrants and even claimed that no foreign court can stop them, nobody dared to question the British Government.

Now, when the Ministry of Home Affairs & the Government of Manipur adopt a similar stance and initiate the deportation of illegal immigrants from Manipur, certain sections of people are losing their sleep.

They have been persistently spreading false propaganda to portray the Government of Manipur as a communal government," Biren wrote while referring to a recent report of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to deport illegal immigrants.

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