MAOISTS ACTIVITIES ALONG INDO-NEPAL
BORDER
RAJYA SABHA
There are reports
of large scale illegal influx of Bangladeshi nationals who manage
to infiltrate into the country in spite of checks and controls
at the international border due to the long, open and porous nature
of the border. The problem of illegal influx is mainly from Bangladesh.
The local people of the North-Eastern States perceive their ethnic/cultural
identity being threatened by infiltration of other ethnic/cultural
groups.
The Minister
of State for Home, Shri I.D. Swami informed the Rajya Sabha that
for curbing illegal influx into the country several measures have
been taken by the Government which include strengthening of BSF
and equipping them with modern and sophisticated equipment/gadgets;
raising of additional battalions of BSF; reduction of gaps between
border outposts; intensification of patrolling; accelerated programme
of construction of border roads and border fencing; provision
of surveillance equipment, etc. State Governments and Union Territories
have also been directed to enforce the provisions of Foreigners
Act (IMDT Act in case of Assam) strictly. The powers under Section
3(2)© of the Foreigners Act, 1946 to detect and deport foreign
nationals staying in India unauthorisedly have been entrusted
to the State Governments and UT Administrations. Besides administrative
instructions are also issued to them from time to time to launch
special drives to detect the foreign nationals including Bangladeshi
nationals staying illegally in the country for their immediate
deportation.
The Government
has also constituted Autonomous District Councils/Autonomous Councils
in the States of Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya under the
Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India to provide autonomy
and to protect the cultural identity of the people. The Government
has recently agreed to constitute Bodoland Territorial Council
(BTC) to address the concerns of Bodos.
He also told
the House that while deporting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants,
it is ensured that no harassment is caused to bona-fide Indian
citizens.
