Centre admits presence of illegal migrants

For the first time in many years, a Congress Minister at the Centre albeit reluctantly admitted to presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the country, when External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee formally conceded to the presence of 15-16 lakh illegal migrants from the neighbouring country. The External Affairs Minister’s statement in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour, however, provoked the BJP to condemn Mukherjee for cutting down the figures of Bangladeshi migrants. Successive Home Ministers at the Centre have given out figure much higher than what was quoted by the External Affairs Minister,” said BJP spokesman, Vijay Kumar Malhotra.

“In 1990, the then Home Minister gave a figure of 1.50 crore and now the External Affairs Minister says, it is only 15-16 lakh. This is what even the Bangladesh Prime Minister had been claiming. It is nothing but a white lie,” charged Malhotra.

Mukherjee, interestingly is the second Minister of the UPA Government to give out an estimate of the illegal Bangladeshi population in the country and his figures are much lower than those given by Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal in 2004, when he had given an estimate of 50 lakh illegal migrants in the Rajya Sabha. Later, he withdrew his reply.

The External Affairs Minister, however, tried to set at rest all speculation about the figures by asserting that the illegal migrants do not stand in a queue to be counted. Therefore they are all estimate. It is an estimate because nobody can give you an accurate figure. If we know the figure then perhaps we could prevent them from entering,” he told Mohan Rawle of Shiv Sena.

“There are 15-16 lakh illegal migrants staying in India,” he said amidst a ruckus by the opposition.

The External Affairs Minister, however, tried to tackle a whole of issues involving Bangladesh and Nepal.

About the anti-India activities by Indian insurgent groups read ULFA and other North-east-based militants, Mukherjee said that during his visit to Dhaka he had been assured by the highest in Bangladesh that they would not allow forces inimical to India to operate out of the country. “I hope they keep their word,” he said.

Adding further, he disclosed that during his meeting with the former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia he impressed upon her to take note of the existence of the problem. “Once you recognise, perhaps a way to solve the problem will be found out,” he said.

The External affairs Minister further confirmed that the issue was also taken up with the caretaker regime of Bangladesh. Government of India have emphasised to them the need for concrete and sustained action towards fulfilling its assurances.

On being asked why India was not demolishing the camps operated by the militants, the External Affairs Minister said since it involved a sovereign country India had to depend on that country to take action. “I have to depend on them,” he said.

Asserting that India continued to take up these issues with Bangladesh, Mukherjee said during the last DG level talks between BSF and BDR, a list of 176 camps and 339 wanted criminals was handed over to Dhaka. Similarly they have also handed over list of criminals some of whom are holed up in Kolkata. “We are taking action whenever we can,” he said.

About Nepal, the Minister said there was no issue of illegal migration because of a treaty with that country. For more than a decade the Maoists had taken up arms and spread their activities. But now the armed Maoists have been quarantined and weapons are under supervision of the UN. The Maoist have joined the Government.

Meanwhile, in a Rajya Sabha reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs, S Reghupathy said that BSF has not submitted any specific proposal for creation of ‘No Habitation Zone’ within 150 yards from Indo-Bangladesh border. They are providing effective

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