Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh has expressed support for the Centre’s plan to fence the India-Myanmar border, emphasizing the importance of national security amid the crisis in Manipur. The over 1,600-km border with junta-ruled Myanmar touches states like Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, stated that securing borders is the nation’s prime duty and called for prioritizing national security.
Singh highlighted the existing border security measures along the western sector and the border with Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for boundary fencing on the India-Myanmar border in the current situation. He stressed that everyone in Bharat (India) should prioritize national security, and border fencing is a necessary step before working on border management.
The Union Minister’s comments come in the aftermath of the Centre’s decision to end the Free Movement Regime (FMR), allowing people living close to the India-Myanmar border to visit 16 km into each other’s territory without a visa. The move has raised concerns amid ethnic tensions in Manipur, particularly between the hill-majority Kuki tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis.
Singh, who represents the Inner Manipur constituency, asserted that the situation now necessitates boundary fencing on the India-Myanmar border. He urged individuals to keep national security as their first priority and emphasized that border fencing should precede efforts toward border management, treating both aspects as separate matters.
The Minister’s remarks align with the Manipur government’s call to end the FMR, addressing concerns related to ethnic tensions and illegal immigration. However, Mizoram’s Chief Minister Lalduhoma reportedly opposed the proposal to fence the Mizoram-Myanmar border during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi. Lalduhoma argued that building fences along the border would acknowledge the historical blunder committed by the British colonial government, which divided the Mizos living in both India and Myanmar.
The Chief Minister of Mizoram expressed that the Mizo people reject the proposal to fence the border, particularly as Mizoram has provided shelter to over 35,000 refugees fleeing conflict in Myanmar. The opposition to border fencing in Mizoram contrasts with concerns in Manipur, where Meiteis in the valley have raised issues of illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the border.
Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, addressing the concerns surrounding border fencing, suggested the use of smart technology, including solar-powered laser fencing and cameras, to ensure effective border control. He emphasized that border fencing doesn’t have to be a menacing structure and that people can travel with proper documents. Singh highlighted the use of modern technologies for border security, citing examples from the western and Bangladesh borders.
Singh stressed the importance of keeping borders sealed, safe, and intact as the first basic step toward national security. The ongoing discussions and decisions regarding border fencing in different regions reflect the complex considerations related to historical connections, ethnic tensions, and the need for effective border control measures. The comments by both Manipur and Mizoram representatives underscore the diverse perspectives and challenges associated with border management in the context of India’s relations with Myanmar.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has recently introduced a new system for foreigners visiting India on the Electronic Visa (e-Visa) platform. Known as the “e-Visa-on-Arrival” system, it allows eligible travelers to apply and obtain an e-Visa upon arrival in India