People's role urged for detection and deportation of foreigners

Guwahati, Dec 8 (UNI) The Asom BJP today urged the people of the state to play an active role for detection and deportation of foreigners in the state after the Supreme Court scrapped the controversial amendments to the Foreigners' Act.

The apex court had held that no amendment to the Foreigners' Act, 1969, was necessary for Asom as a special case and the same procedure should be maintained for detection of foreigners across the country.

The state government had amended the Act by an order in February this year, which was constructed as a means to bring in the scrapped Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, (IMDT Act), through backdoor.

AGP MP Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP spokesperson Charan Deka had challenged the amendments on basis of which the changes were dropped.

Mr Deka, talking to reporters, said the Supreme Court verdict was a historical judgement and exposed the hollowness of the state government's claims of controlling infiltration from neighbouring Bangladesh.

He said, '' The Supreme Court has now directed that all pending cases should be transferred to the tribunals formed under the Foreigners' Act and those will have the sole authority to prosecute.'' He urged the people of the state to ensure all possible cooperation and vigilance to help in the detection and deportation of infiltrators.

The BJP leader alleged that the Congress would not allow the infiltrators to be deported and would continue politicising the issue for vote bank benefits.

'' The Congress will have to be reduced to a non-player to ensure that the foreigners do not become a majority here and the BJP will take a lead in it, '' he added.

He said the national executive of the party would also deliberate on the infiltration issue of Asom and a state district presidents' meet will find ways to tackle the problem first hand.

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