The MNF-led government in Mizoram has said a big no to the Union Home Ministry’s directive to collect biometric data of Myanmar refugees in the State. It’s ‘discriminatory and violates human rights’, it reasons.

The order to check ‘illegal migrants’ was issued first in April and in June the exercise was told to be completed by September-end. While a pilot project was launched across all 11 districts, primarily relief camps where refugees are staying, Chief Minister Zoramthanga has decided not to go ahead, despite North Block now extending the deadline to 31 March 2024, as requested by Manipur.

Since the 2021 military coup, “60,000 Myanmarese have taken refuge, the government has provided all relief, children given free education, free mid-day meals, etc, despite no funds from Centre’, says Mizo government, asserting it won’t stop.  Moreso, as Chin people in Myanmar share a common ethnicity with Mizos, and when borders were drawn by the British ‘some of our brothers and sisters got left behind’.

However, with Assembly polls at year-end, the exercise could turn into a hot political issue, which expectedly MNF would like to avoid. It’s an NDA partner and what happens after, is anybody’s guess…