The Mizoram Assembly unanimously passing Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers Bill, 2019, to create a register of all households in the state has made the Chakmas develop cold feet. The chief minister (CM) Zoramthanga said that it had become necessary to pass the bill due to the “unabated influx of foreigners into Mizoram through its porous borders”.
“In many cases, the benefits of development and welfare programmes are found eaten away to a large extent by such foreigners,” reads the bill’s statement of objects and reasons, signed by the CM.
A report quoted the state’s information and public relation minister Lalruatkima as saying, “The main threat of foreigners comes from Bengali Muslims and Buddhist Chakmas.” Christians account for over
87 per cent of Mizoram’s population.