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.

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