NEW DELHI, Aug 28 � The Central government has confirmed that BPF leaders have demanded that no inmates of the relief camps in the BTAD areas, spread over four districts, be allowed to be rehabilitated without verifying their credentials.
The Lok Sabha reply by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran to a question by SK Bwiswmutiary assumes significance because the BPF leader yesterday held detailed discussions with Home Minister SK Shinde in connection with the recent incidents of violence. The BTC was instructed to set up coordination committee involving the Bodo and non-Bodos as part of confidence building measures.
Significantly, the Centre today said Bengali refugees in India are not considered as illegal migrants according to Citizenship Amendment Act, 2003. The Act has defined illegal migrants under section 2 (b), the minister said.
Meanwhile, Ramachandran passed the responsibility of detecting and deporting illegal migrants on the State government. The powers of identification and deportation of illegally staying foreign nationals, including Bangladeshi nationals, have been delegated to the State governments under Section 3(2) of the Foreigners� Act, 1946.
At least 36 Foreigners Tribunals, including additional four sanctioned in 2009, are set up for detection of illegal migrants in Assam, the minister added.
In the wake of allegation of failure to plug the international border with Bangladesh, the Home Ministry is toying with a proposal to despatch a team of officials to Israel to study border management.
