[Reader-list] News Items posted on the net on Multipurpose National Identity Cards-67

[Taha Mehmood]

http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=118452

States back Centre on sending back Bangladeshi immigrants

NEW DELHI, FEB 8 (PTI)

States today backed the Centre in its resolve to send back the nearly 15
million illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India, but refused to agree to the
setting up of a federal agency to combat terrorism and organised crime.

A day-long Conference of Chief Ministers on Internal Security, inaugurated
by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, reviewed the overall security
situation with special emphasis on terrorism, illegal migration and
left-wing extremism and discussed issuance of multi-purpose identity cards.

"Government is determined to ensure that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh,
whose number is estimated at 1.5 crore, are sent back. There is
determination among the states to reverse the whole trend of illegal
migration," Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani told reporters while briefing
on the outcome of the conference here.

On the appeal made by the Prime Minister to the states to consider setting
up of a Central Law Enforcement Agency to deal with well-defined federal
crimes, Advani said there was no consensus among chief ministers as several
of them felt it would diminish the authority and powers of their states.

"But I do not feel that way. Purpose of a federal agency is to strengthen
the states rather than in any way diminish their powers", he said, observing
that the Centre would continue discussions with states on the issue.

Advani rejected the proposal mooted by several chief ministers that CBI be
given greater powers to deal with crimes having ramifications in more than
one state, saying that the agency can be handed over a case only if a state
government recommended or a court ordered.

Addressing the conference, Vajpayee charged Pakistan with taking "no
significant action" to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and said reports
had suggested that territories in Nepal and Bangladesh were now being used
by ISI to pursue anti-India agenda.

"Available reports suggest that the territories of Nepal and Bangladesh are
now being used by ISI to pursue its anti-India agenda. Therefore, we have to
intensify our efforts to counter terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and
subversive activities both in those states that border these two countries
and elsewhere," he said.

Vajpayee said "for us, the most disconcerting aspect of terrorism is that it
is sponsored, supported and funded by Pakistan as a matter of state policy."
The Prime Minister said Pakistani establishment did not appear to be
interested in establishing tension-free and good neighbourly relations with
India by ending its proxy war and was violating UN Resolution 1373 by
supporting terrorists.

The Chief Ministers welcomed a Union Home Ministry Committee report
suggesting increase from 50 per cent to 75 per cent central allocation for
modernisation of state police forces.

Advani said the recommendations would have to be approved by the Finance
Ministry to ensure their implementation. While the Central assistance would
comprise 50 per cent grant and 25 per cent long-term loan, the remaining 25
per cent would have to be borne by the states, the Committee had suggested.

On the issue of illegal migration, Advani said the government was
considering issuing multi-purpose identity cards to the people to combat the
menace and pilot projects for the purpose had already been started.

Asked if corruption in BSF was leading to migration of Bangladeshis into
India, he said there might be an "element" of corruption but that was not
the reason for the large-scale migration.

Without giving figures, Advani expressed satisfaction over identification of
Bangladeshis and their being sent back to their country. He said the recent
crisis on the West Bengal border over 213 stranded Bangladeshis could not
have been resolved without the cooperation of the state government.

The chief ministers also demanded that the coastal security be handed over
to the Coast Guard.

Government would also conside r convening a conference to discuss the
recommendations of the National Police Commission including transfer and
postings of police officials, an issue that has been agitating IPS officers
across the country.

There was unanimity also on strengtheing special branches of police forces
and making full use of the intelligence apparatus and the joint task force
on intelligence set up by the Home Ministry.

To counter left-wing extremism, Advani said joint task forces could also be
set up by concerned states for coordination.

The meet also stressed the need for police patrolling and fencing in areas
along Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, besides taking diplomatic
initiatives with these countries to get insurgent camps there dismantled.

As Pakistan had widened the arc of its terrorist offensive to cover not only
J and K but also other states, the chief ministers agreed that the states
would set up special task forces with trained personnel and modern weaponry
to effectively deal with and neutralise ISI-sponsored terrorist cells.

The need to accelerate fencing along the Indo-Bangla border was also
emphasised at the conference.

It also expressed satisfaction on the steps being taken by the Centre to
negotiate peace accords with insurgent groups in the North East.