SIR must for checking inflow of ‘outsiders’: Arunachal BJP

Arunachal Pradesh has 26 major tribes and more than 120 sub-tribes, some with a population of a few thousand. Most of these communities see the SIR as a shield to protect their land, culture, and identity against numerically larger “outsiders”. Image for the purpose of representation. | Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR GUWAHATIThe Arunachal Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has backed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, emphasising the need for accurate voters’ lists amid concerns over inflow of “illegal migrants”.Arunachal Pradesh has 26 major tribes and more than 120 sub-tribes, some with a population of a few thousand. Most of these communities see the SIR as a shield to protect their land, culture, and identity against numerically larger “outsiders”.The State has experienced tension between the APSTs (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes) and the non-APSTs in areas bordering Assam. It also went through a tense phase during the SIR exercise in areas inhabited by the Buddhist Chakmas and Hindu Hajongs, who were settled in the 1960s after displacement in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.Speaking at a party meeting in East Kameng district on Monday (October 19, 2026), BJP’s Arunachal General Secretary Tadar Niglar underscored the importance of the SIR in maintaining correct, updated voters’ lists to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.“Electoral roll revision is a structured process and should not be misrepresented as an arbitrary exercise. Procedural safeguards involved in SIR demonstrate the importance of verification, transparency and opportunities for eligible voters to raise claims or objections before the final electoral roll is published,” he said.Mr. Niglar criticised the protests staged by the Cockroach Janta Party and the Congress-led INDIA bloc, terming their “disruptive actions” as politically motivated. He alleged that the Opposition was trying to create political chaos and anarchy in the country rather than engaging constructively with the electoral revision process.He said their actions reflected frustration over their political prospects and accused them of seeking political advantage through street protests and disruption.“Is it wrong to remove bogus or duplicate voter entries from electoral rolls or to verify the eligibility of voters whose particulars cannot be established through the prescribed verification process?” he asked the Opposition parties.Mr. Niglar said the objective of electoral roll revision should be to ensure every eligible Indian citizen is properly registered and electoral rolls remain free from duplicate and ineligible entries.He urged BJP workers to communicate SIR’s objectives and procedures responsibly to help people understand the importance of accurate electoral rolls and a transparent democratic process.Arunachal Pradesh is protected under the British-era Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime, along with Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. The ILP is an official travel document that outsiders need to obtain to visit these protected States for a limited period.There have been allegations about outsiders entering the State secretly or with forged documents, triggering demands for stricter enforcement of the ILP regime. Published - October 20, 2026 02:31 pm IST