AUDF supports detection and deportation of Bangladeshis

Guwahati, Aug 5 (UNI) The Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) today lent its support to the campaign for detection and deportation of Bangladeshi infiltrators in the state, though cautioning against harassment of genuine citizens in the process.

''The AUDF supports the detection and deportation of illegal immigrants, but we don't want atrocities on genuine citizens in the name of detection,'' party president and Legislator Badruddin Ajmal said.

Slamming the government for its alleged inaction in expediting the process, he said it was for the governments, both state and Centre, to take the initiative but they had ''clearly failed in it.'' He pointed out that in the absence of photo identity cards or an updated National Register of Citizens, bonafide citizens rarely had documents to prove their nationality and infiltrators took advantage of it.

Mr Ajmal also criticised the role of organisations like the All Assam Students' Union and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad, for their self-appointed role in detecting Bangladeshis and handing them over to the police.

He said organisations and individuals should refrain from such activities as they ended up creating law and order problems.

''Identification should be through the legal process,'' he said.

He also stressed on the need for a more pro-active role of the government for groups to stop meddling in the issue.

On the allegation of madrassas turning into breeding ground of terrorists, Mr Ajmal said, ''Anybody is welcome to inspect the madrassas and ascertain for themselves the activities going on in them.'' Refuting such charges as baseless, he said the madrassas had contributed to the education sector in the state by providing free education in the remote areas.

UNI SG RH KLC1454