NEW DELHI, Dec 14 ? Unfazed by attacks on UPA Government?s stand on illegal influx from across the border, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil today strongly defended the contentious IMDT Act, arguing that it was needed to protect the genuine Indian citizens from harassment.
In a policy statement of sorts, the Union Home Minister today clarified the UPA Government?s position on the illegal infiltrators, explaining that Central Government differentiated between infiltrators who entered the country with guns to create terror and those who sneaked in because of economic compulsions.
In the same breath, he added that it also does not mean that Centre would allow them to stay, arguing that UPA Government has a different view on the issue from the NDA regime, even as the BJP members protested. But Sri Patil?s statement assumes significance because the UPA Government has clarified that it makes a distinction between infiltrators from Pakistan and those from Bangladesh.
Saying that UPA Government differed on the issue with the BJP?s standpoint, Sri Patil went on to argue that it was protect the genuine Bengali speaking Indians that legislation like the IMDT Act had been enacted. Sri Patil was replying to the discussion on the Internal Security situation in the country that dwelt at length on the problem of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh.
Earlier in the morning, replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Sri Patil defended the decision of the UPA Government to retain the IMDT Act pointing out that became necessary for the Centre to protect genuine Indian citizens from harassment. The matter has been pending in the Supreme Court, he added.
Asserting that two trends were seen, Sri Patil said there were those who wanted that such people should be deported and those who maintained that Bengali speaking Indian citizens was being harassed, in the name of Bangladeshi. It was to identify such foreign nationals that Acts, like the IMDT was enacted by the Government, he claimed.
?There are differences of view, you say those who are caught should be send back. But our view is that it should not be so. The IMDT Act has been enacted for this purpose, its Tribunals determine who is a foreigner. We are trying to do justice,? Sri Patil told Harin Pathak of BJP.
Earlier, the BJP MP charged the UPA Government of being partisan, pointed out that provisions like onus of proof on the complainant was proving to be the main hurdles. ?You cannot send back any illegal migrants with an Act like this. The Government is not serious about curbing illegal infiltration because of vote banks politics,? he charged.
Before him Sarbananda Sonowal also raised the issue pointing out that the previous Government as well as judges of the tribunals have admitted that IMDT Act has hampered the process of identification and deportation of foreigners. The Home Minister faced the heat on the influx problem, as Opposition members charged the UPA Government of complacency.
Anand Gete of Shiv Sena pointing out that a large number of illegal migrants were involved in criminal acts, he said that majority of Bangladeshis crossed over to India through Karimganj district. He wanted the Government to take steps to plug the border.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, S.Reghupathy, however, defended the detection and deportation of Bangladeshi in Delhi asserting that Government of India cannot allow them to stay in the country after being detected. ?How can we allow Bangladeshis to stay? He asked.
He was replying to Anwar Hussain, who charged that genuine Indian citizens from Assam were harassed in Delhi and deported to Bangladesh. He alleged that seven persons belonging to his Dhubri constituency were deported to Bangladesh by Delhi police.
Sri Patil, however, conceded that the fencing work along the Indo-Bangladesh border was going slow. He held the State agencies responsible for the delay, asserting that the Centre was trying to expedite the work. Some 100-150 km of fencing work has been completed so far, he said.
Earlier, Sri Patil said that proposal to prepare a National Register of Indian citizen was under consideration of Government of India, while the proposal to issue identity cards was on.
He was responding to V.K.Malhotra of BJP, who claimed that population of illegal migrants in the country has touched 2.5 crore and yet the Government was not serious about preparing the NRIC.
Not intending to get into trouble, the Union Home Minister has further clarified that it was not possible to estimate with any degree of accuracy the exact number of illegal migrants from various countries living in various States. During the year 11,285 foreigners were deported from the country.