Guwahati: Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday blamed illegal migration from Bangladesh for the recent unrest in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills.
At a press briefing in New Delhi, Prasad said the BJP stands with the tribal communities and is committed to protecting their constitutional rights.
He claimed tensions rose after alleged attempts by outsiders to integrate into local tribal society and contest elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), a body reserved for tribal members.
Prasad warned that the growing presence of outsiders is affecting land rights, political representation, and the social balance of indigenous tribes.
He also referred to a controversy involving former Phulbari MLA S.G. Esmatur Momin, saying a nomination was filed despite opposition from local tribal groups. Some outsiders, he alleged, reportedly marry tribal women and obtain fraudulent certificates to contest autonomous council elections.
He said the BJP opposes any effort to undermine tribal rights and noted that similar measures to curb illegal migration are being enforced in other NDA-ruled states, including Meghalaya.
The BJP in Meghalaya has recommended changes to the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District Council Rules, 1951, requiring candidates to hold a Scheduled Tribe certificate and belong to an indigenous community to vote or contest GHADC elections.
A party delegation led by Meghalaya BJP president Rikman G. Momin met Governor C.H. Vijayashankar to submit a memorandum suggesting rule changes to protect tribal rights. The Governor assured that the proposals would be reviewed by experts before action under constitutional procedures.
BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak said the party plans to remove illegal migrants from the plains, warning that their presence threatens tribal identity.
He alleged outsiders are seeking influence in tribal institutions and living on leased tribal land, calling on authorities to act impartially to safeguard the rights and culture of indigenous communities.