The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on April 23, 2026, accused the Meghalaya government of having no official estimate of illegal immigrants and demanded a “foolproof mechanism” to identify and deport undocumented migrants. VPP chief Ardent M. Basaiawmoit made the remarks after a rally, saying the state has not released any data on undocumented residents and urging immediate action to keep them out of official records and the census.
Basaiawmoit contrasted Meghalaya’s position with Assam, saying figures presented by the Assam government show a steady rise in illegal immigration while Meghalaya has not undertaken a similar exercise. “As of now, there is no proper record; there is no estimate that the government has come out with, unlike in Assam,” he said, arguing that undocumented migrants must be detected and deported.
The VPP leader warned that enforcement actions in Assam could have spillover effects into Meghalaya, and called for a rigorous detection process to prevent undocumented people from being counted in the census or included in public rolls. He said the party will press the issue across districts and build pressure on the state administration.
Signalling a shift in tactics, Basaiawmoit said the party would not formally submit its demands in writing. “We are not going to give anything in writing. Let the government get information through the media only,” he said, and added that the VPP plans to organise meetings across districts and march to the state secretariat “at the right time” to press its demands.
The rally also raised complaints about the functioning of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission and District Selection Committees, outstanding demands of teachers, unresolved border disputes, and what the VPP described as the government’s failure to address the aspirations of the Khasi-Jaintia community.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-has-no-estimate-of-illegal-immigrants-voice-of-the-people-party-1379910-2026-04-23?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-04-23 07:49:00
