08-31-2012, 11:28 AM
Telegraphindia.com
Govt turns proactive on influx Assam asked to expedite cases
- on guard
NISHIT DHOLABHAI
Security personnel keep vigil in a curfew-bound area at Ambagan in Nagaon district on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos See Pages 15 & 16
New Delhi, Aug. 30: Turning proactive, the Centre has written to the Assam government to expedite the processing of a whopping 2.37 lakh cases of illegal migration from Bangla-desh pending in the 36 tribunals in the state.
Another 79,000 cases have been referred by superintendents of police of various districts in Assam to the tribunals, but notices on these have not yet been sent to the individuals.
Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told The Telegraph today that he would visit the border areas soon after the Parliament session. ââ¬ÅIllegal migration has to stop and we will ensure the borders are sealed. It is a matter of better management,ââ¬Â he said. The home ministry had held a high-level meeting on the issue of influx yesterday.
Till now, the UPA government had been shy of admitting that violence in the BTAD had anything to do even remotely with the issue of illegal migration.
The push came after intelligence agencies recommended urgent action on various fronts ââ¬â reviving tribunals earlier regulated by the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983, updating the National Register of Citizens as promised in the Assam Accord and sending back Muslims affected by violence in the Bodo areas safely to their villages.
The home ministry had sent a communication to Dispur on May 10, asking it to revive the tribunals as most of the cases of illegal migration were ââ¬Åpending for 20-25 yearsââ¬Â. Three months later, on August 17, the Centre sent another communication to the Assam government asking it to ââ¬Åreviewââ¬Â the working of tribunals and help them expedite the cases under the more stringent provisions of the Foreigners (Tribunal) Amendment Order, 2012.
A proactive attitude from the Centre on detection and deportation of foreigners could take the wind out of the sails of the BJP and RSS who have launched a countrywide campaign on illegal migration. As the BJP and AGP play on local sentiments in the wake of the recent violence in Assam, the Congressââ¬â¢s predicament is to act against illegal migrants but not destroy its minority vote bank.
Fears of revival of the anti-foreigner Assam Agitation and polarisation of communities has put the government in a fix. While the Congress has considered the Bengali-speaking Muslims in lower Assam as its vote bank for years, a leadership has emerged from within to throw up parties like the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF.
However, there is pressure from within the Congress to act against illegal migration.
Govt turns proactive on influx Assam asked to expedite cases
- on guard
NISHIT DHOLABHAI
Security personnel keep vigil in a curfew-bound area at Ambagan in Nagaon district on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos See Pages 15 & 16
New Delhi, Aug. 30: Turning proactive, the Centre has written to the Assam government to expedite the processing of a whopping 2.37 lakh cases of illegal migration from Bangla-desh pending in the 36 tribunals in the state.
Another 79,000 cases have been referred by superintendents of police of various districts in Assam to the tribunals, but notices on these have not yet been sent to the individuals.
Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told The Telegraph today that he would visit the border areas soon after the Parliament session. ââ¬ÅIllegal migration has to stop and we will ensure the borders are sealed. It is a matter of better management,ââ¬Â he said. The home ministry had held a high-level meeting on the issue of influx yesterday.
Till now, the UPA government had been shy of admitting that violence in the BTAD had anything to do even remotely with the issue of illegal migration.
The push came after intelligence agencies recommended urgent action on various fronts ââ¬â reviving tribunals earlier regulated by the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983, updating the National Register of Citizens as promised in the Assam Accord and sending back Muslims affected by violence in the Bodo areas safely to their villages.
The home ministry had sent a communication to Dispur on May 10, asking it to revive the tribunals as most of the cases of illegal migration were ââ¬Åpending for 20-25 yearsââ¬Â. Three months later, on August 17, the Centre sent another communication to the Assam government asking it to ââ¬Åreviewââ¬Â the working of tribunals and help them expedite the cases under the more stringent provisions of the Foreigners (Tribunal) Amendment Order, 2012.
A proactive attitude from the Centre on detection and deportation of foreigners could take the wind out of the sails of the BJP and RSS who have launched a countrywide campaign on illegal migration. As the BJP and AGP play on local sentiments in the wake of the recent violence in Assam, the Congressââ¬â¢s predicament is to act against illegal migrants but not destroy its minority vote bank.
Fears of revival of the anti-foreigner Assam Agitation and polarisation of communities has put the government in a fix. While the Congress has considered the Bengali-speaking Muslims in lower Assam as its vote bank for years, a leadership has emerged from within to throw up parties like the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF.
However, there is pressure from within the Congress to act against illegal migration.