02-13-2006, 11:11 PM
Eye on Assam polls, UPA govt to amend law on whoâs an illegal
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
Posted online: Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 0219 hours IST
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 10: With an eye on the Assam polls and on the eve of Congress president Sonia Gandhiâs scheduled visit to the state, the UPA government today decided to amend the Foreigners Act to ensure âfair hearingâ to a person before he or she is declared a foreigner.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh whoâs himself a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, decided on the move after the Supreme Court struck down the controversial Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunals (IMDT) Act last July.
The SC ruling had caused concern among parties wooing minorities in Assam who account for some 30 per cent votes and hold the key in 40 of the 126 Assembly constituencies.
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters today that once the Foreigners Act is amended, every case to determine a foreigner will be referred to a tribunal set up by the Government to ensure âfair hearingâ.
Reacting to the CCPA decision, <b>BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad called it a âbackdoorâ move to get past the SC order. </b>âThis has been done to shield <b>foreigners against identification and deportation</b>. The BJP never wants any problems for Indian Muslims, but we cannot ignore the threat to security and integrity of the country posed by foreigners sn! eaking into our territory,â he said. During his visit to Assam last month, the Prime Minister had assured the minorities that all necessary steps would be taken to protect their legitimate interests in the wake of the SC judgment. He had indicated that the GoM would complete the task of drafting an alternate to the IMDT Act soon.
Assam is due for Assembly elections and the <b>Congress faces problems galore. </b>
Adding to fears of anti-incumbency are infighting and the move by more than a dozen Muslim and linguistic groups to float the United Democratic Front (UDF).
IMDT gone, avatar for âfair hearingâ
⢠Under IMDT Act, onus to prove a personâs foreign identity was on complainant
⢠IMDT Act was struck down by Supreme Court last July
⢠Govt appointed GoM to find way out
⢠CCPA decides to amend Foreigners Act, set up tribunals fo! r âfair hearingâ
⢠BJP, AGP oppose move, say every illegal can now demand âfair hearingâ to stall deportation
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
Posted online: Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 0219 hours IST
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 10: With an eye on the Assam polls and on the eve of Congress president Sonia Gandhiâs scheduled visit to the state, the UPA government today decided to amend the Foreigners Act to ensure âfair hearingâ to a person before he or she is declared a foreigner.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh whoâs himself a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, decided on the move after the Supreme Court struck down the controversial Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunals (IMDT) Act last July.
The SC ruling had caused concern among parties wooing minorities in Assam who account for some 30 per cent votes and hold the key in 40 of the 126 Assembly constituencies.
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters today that once the Foreigners Act is amended, every case to determine a foreigner will be referred to a tribunal set up by the Government to ensure âfair hearingâ.
Reacting to the CCPA decision, <b>BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad called it a âbackdoorâ move to get past the SC order. </b>âThis has been done to shield <b>foreigners against identification and deportation</b>. The BJP never wants any problems for Indian Muslims, but we cannot ignore the threat to security and integrity of the country posed by foreigners sn! eaking into our territory,â he said. During his visit to Assam last month, the Prime Minister had assured the minorities that all necessary steps would be taken to protect their legitimate interests in the wake of the SC judgment. He had indicated that the GoM would complete the task of drafting an alternate to the IMDT Act soon.
Assam is due for Assembly elections and the <b>Congress faces problems galore. </b>
Adding to fears of anti-incumbency are infighting and the move by more than a dozen Muslim and linguistic groups to float the United Democratic Front (UDF).
IMDT gone, avatar for âfair hearingâ
⢠Under IMDT Act, onus to prove a personâs foreign identity was on complainant
⢠IMDT Act was struck down by Supreme Court last July
⢠Govt appointed GoM to find way out
⢠CCPA decides to amend Foreigners Act, set up tribunals fo! r âfair hearingâ
⢠BJP, AGP oppose move, say every illegal can now demand âfair hearingâ to stall deportation