NEW DELHI, Feb 26 — Notwithstanding the hue-and-cry in Assam over proposed repealing of the controversial IMDT Act, the Central government is planning to play it safe and await the verdict of the Supreme Court. This was confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani here today when in reply to a Question Hour discussion, he said that though there is difference of opinion, the Government would wait for the decision of the Apex Court.
However, he left no one in doubt about how the Centre felt about the Act saying that enacted in 1983 so far only 1496 illegal migrants could be deported under the Act. Advani was responding to a question raised by Dr Arun Kumar Sarma who wanted an assurance from Advani to repeal the Act, asserting that probably in no other country in the world there was two set of rules to deal with the illegal immigrants. He also wanted to know how the Centre proposed to tackle those foreigners who already got their names enrolled in the voters list.
Earlier, in a over 25 minutes discussion, Advani conceded that detection and deportation of foreigners was not going to be an easy task. But he contended that the recent steps taken by the Centre including the decision of the Director General and the chief ministers conferences would put pshysological pressure on illegal migrants. Till now the illegal immigrants were under the impression that Government of India would never take any action. But now a clear signal has gone. This is likely to have a deterrent affect on them, Advani said.
Advani clarified that Centre was committed to detect and deport the foreigners whatever the cost involved. He was responding to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam’s contention that the Centre was bearing a cost of Rs 5,000 for deporting one alien. There are an estimated 2 crore illegal immigrants in the country and at the current rate the Centre would require Rs 10,000 crore to deport them, Nirupam claimed. Advani, however, declined to confirm the figure or the cost of deportation.
The Rajya Sabha discussion saw several senior members including Dr Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee besides few others express concern at the unabated infiltration from across the border. Members also expressed their alarm at the harassment of Bengali-speaking Muslim people by the police.
Earlier, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Harin Pathak in response to Dr Singh question claimed that first phase of border fencing work was completed. In the first phase 857 km of border fencing covering the state of West Bengal (507), Assam (150) and Meghalaya (150) were completed. The second phase is slated to be completed in next five years.
Earlier, the Minister in response to the concern expressed by the members said that all states and union territories in the country have been directed to launch special drives against the illegal migrants. Senior members like Mukherjee said that infiltrators have even penetrated to those states which do not have border with Bangladesh. For instance during the six months period between August 2002 and January 2003, 8,480 Bangladeshi migrants were caught and sent back to Bangladesh out of which 159 were deported from Mumbai.