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Illegal immigrants to be deported: Advani

New Delhi, February 16
Adopting a tough stand on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, India said today that these “foreigners” had to be deported “firmly but lawfully”.

Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, without naming Bangladesh, said illegal migration from the neighbouring country into India had increased during the recent past.

“A large number of people have come here for various reasons. There are colonies of such people in various parts of the country,” he told officials of the Delhi police here on the occasion of its Raising Day. He said these “foreigners” were living here as Indians and many even possessed ration cards and had got their names entered in voters lists.

“They all have to be sent back and it is the responsibility of the police in all states to do it honestly, lawfully but firmly,” he said.

Mr Advani said this problem was the main issue of discussions at the Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries’ conferences here recently. “Our borders with Bangladesh are such that infiltration is possible even if security forces are there,” he said.

Mr Advani’s remarks came a day after Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Mohammad Morshed Khan met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani in an attempt to resolve the problem following the recent standoff between the two countries over 213 illegal immigrants. PTI