New Delhi, July 14
The Centre today decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to examine the Supreme Court ruling on the controversial IMDT Act and suggest further course of action.
The decision, by the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA), assumes significance as the Supreme Court's order, striking down the Act, could have a major political fallout, especially in view of the next year's Assembly elections in Assam and West Bengal.
In these two states, the numbers of illegal Bangladeshi migrants is reported to be the highest.
"The GoM will hear the views of various parties and advise the Government for further action," Home Minister Shivraj Patil told newspersons after the CCPA meeting.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday struck down the law terming the IMDT Act "unconstitutional" and "discriminatory" against Assam and even went on to say that large influx of Bangladeshis in the country amounted to "external aggression".
"This is a matter on which people have expressed their views differently," Mr Patil said.
The Government, he said, would consider all sides of the opinion before "deciding finally as to how and what has to be done".
The Home Minister said no decision had yet been taken on whether to file a review petition against the verdict.
"The Supreme Court verdict is binding on all of us and the GOM will hear the views of all concerned parties before advising the government," he said.
