BJP: Infiltrators from B'desh behind Meghalaya violence

NEW DELHI: BJP Friday blamed alleged Muslim infiltrators from Bangladesh for the violence in West Garo Hills in Meghalaya, accusing them of causing demographic changes and trying to snatch the rights of the native tribal population

Senior BJP member Ravi Shankar Prasad said the violence began after tribals protested former MLA Estamur Momin's attempt to file nomination for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election. The former Union minister claimed that only tribals are allowed to fight polls.

Two persons were recently killed in police firing during clashes after groups of the Garo community resented the nomination-filing by non-Garo candidates for the election. This came after the Meghalaya high court Tuesday struck down a notification making scheduled tribe certificates compulsory for filing nominations for GHACD polls.

Prasad alleged that tensions prevail in the region as Bangladeshi infiltrators are encroaching on the rights of tribals after settling there in large numbers. He said many of them married tribal girls, gained certificates to enjoy the rights reserved for tribals and then separated.

They have practiced a similar tactic in Jharkhand and West Bengal, he alleged.

"BJP condemns the attempts by non-tribals to snatch the rights of tribals. The demographic change is encroaching on their land rights and political representation," he said, noting that it is a sensitive area bordering Bangladesh. The poll has been postponed by the state govt due to tensions.

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