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Ask Dhaka to take back illegal migrants: AGP

By Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Sept 2 � The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the move to swap land belonging to Assam and West Bengal with Bangladesh and to convey a clear message to the neighbouring country to take back the illegal migrants.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, leader of AGP�s Parliamentary Group, Biren Baishya requested him to reconsider the decision. Once again, the people of Assam will feel ignored and side-lined. The sense of alienation is bound to grow, he opined.

Referring to the problem of unabated illegal migration from Bangladesh, he said the illegal flow continues from the country, which India has liberated. There is no doubt that the illegal immigration has a political intention, he observed.

Till now, no government in Delhi has clearly told the Bangladesh Government to initiate strong measures to stop the flow of people from their side to the Indian states, he said.

�I think there should not be any delay in conveying that political message. In addition to that, Bangladesh Government must take back the illegal migrants, which are to be detected according to the Assam Accord of 1985, which was ratified by our Parliament.

�A clear time-frame to seal the border at your level would bring the much-needed relief. Since your meeting with the All Assam Students� Union and the Chief Minister of Assam on May 5, 2005, in New Delhi, things are not moving as promised by you,� Baishya said in his letter.

�It is really a matter of concern that our border forces have failed to build up a full-proof border between India and Bangladesh. The same measures have been successfully implemented in the western border between India and Pakistan,� he said.

�The people of Assam believe that the security forces are competent, but political thinking on our part is indecisive. The recent reported remark of our Home Minister (to the effect that our BSF should not be tough with the illegal migrants) has created trust-deficit in the minds of the people whom you and I represent,� the AGP MP said.

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