NESO stages protest in Guwahati, seeks action on illegal immigrants and safeguards for indigenous people

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 18, 2025

The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), a conglomeration of eight major student bodies of the region, staged a sit-in demonstration in Guwahati on Monday, demanding the eviction of illegal immigrants from the Northeast and stronger constitutional safeguards for indigenous communities. The organisation also submitted separate memorandums to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, highlighting its concerns.

In its memorandum, NESO said that the demographic composition of the Northeast has undergone serious change due to the unabated influx of migrants from neighbouring countries. It warned that indigenous communities now face a grave threat to their culture, political identity, land rights and even existence. It further alleged that the porous border had been exploited not only by undocumented migrants but also by fundamentalist groups, creating a situation of insecurity in the region.

The memorandum described the issue as no longer just a humanitarian concern but a security problem that has become “a hydra-headed monster.” It called on the Union government to adopt a proactive policy, including the release of a White Paper, to deal with the crisis in a comprehensive and time-bound manner.

NESO reiterated its long-standing demand for the detection and deportation of all illegal foreigners from the Northeast and expressed dissatisfaction over the non-implementation of the Assam Accord even after nearly four decades. It urged the Centre to implement the Accord in letter and spirit within a fixed timeframe. It also demanded the extension of the Inner Line Permit system to the entire Northeast, updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) based on the 1951 record, revision of electoral rolls to delete the names of foreigners, and special constitutional safeguards for indigenous people in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya.

The students’ body further opposed the settlement of Hajong and Chakma refugees in Arunachal Pradesh, arguing that their prolonged stay had created demographic and political imbalances. It said the refugees should be resettled outside the region while continuing to receive humanitarian support. NESO also urged the Union government to exempt the Northeast from the provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and to take urgent measures to restore peace in strife-torn Manipur.

The organisation said its appeal was made in the interest of protecting the microscopic indigenous communities of the Northeast and expressed hope that the Centre would respond swiftly and positively.