[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-37

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/27/stories/2005072716591300.htm

The Hindu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 27, 2005

Patil on steps to prevent illegal migration

Special Correspondent

Assurance at the end of over five-hour debate; Adjournment motion
moved by Advani defeated by voice vote

# Floating outposts for riverine areas
# Register of citizens to be updated
# Multipurpose identity cards soon

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday told the Lok
Sabha that the Government would not allow genuine citizens to be put
to difficulty, following the recent Supreme Court order to scrap the
Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act.

The Minister's assurance came at the end of an over five-hour debate
on an adjournment motion moved by Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani
on the "failure of the Government to protect the eastern borders from
illegal migration from Bangladesh." The House rejected the motion by
voice vote.

Border fencing

On the steps to prevent illegal migration, Mr. Patil said fencing of
the eastern borders was expected to be completed by next year.
Riverine areas would have floating border outposts and Border Security
Force battalions would be posted every 30 km, instead of the present
70, to increase vigil. The register of citizens would be updated and
the multi-purpose identity card scheme implemented in the border
areas. Mr. Patil sought to know why the National Democratic Alliance
Government made no effort to act on the Governor's report submitted in
November 1998.

"Is it not vote bank politics to say that Hindu migrants should be
seen as refugees and Muslims as illegal migrants?"

The problem probably arose from an Opposition desire to use the issue
for political purposes. "We are chips off the old block. Whether
Hindus or Muslims, we belong to this land. ... Don't adopt this
method, it will create problems."

Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee placed the enactment of the IMDT
Act by Parliament in 1983 in historical perspective.

While stating the Government was bound to follow the court order, he
noted, "We have the right to disagree with view of the Supreme Court
declaring it [IMDT] null and void. ... Does it prevent Parliament from
passing another Act to ensure the genuine rights of genuine citizens?
... No one is talking of illegal immigrants," he said, responding to
the criticism that referring the matter to a Group of Ministers was
aimed at diluting it.

Welcoming the court order, Mr. Advani saw it as a comment on the
functioning of the Government and said that of the three aspects of
internal security — terrorism, naxalites and illegal migration — the
last was more dangerous.

For, there was a collective will to counter the first two aspects and
none to tackle illegal immigration.

Mr. Advani said the Vajpayee Government had introduced a Bill in 2003
to repeal the Act but the House was dissolved before it could be taken
up. Mr. Mukherjee, who was then heading the Parliamentary Standing
Committee which scrutinised the Bill, countered this claim. He said
the Bill, along with nine others, was referred to the panel towards
the end of the session and there were several sittings before the
House was dissolved.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Basudeb Acharia opposed the
motion and said the IMDT was aimed at judicial scrutiny to ensure that
the rights of genuine citizens were protected.

He cited instances of Bengali-speaking Muslims in the area being put
to difficulty.