UNION home ministry seems all set to continue with its
controversial plans to detect alleged illegal immigrants
from Bangladesh. The ministry, armed with a Survey which
claims that an ``overwhelming majority justified the
deportation exercise of the government'', has begun
preparations for a speedy implementation of its plan to
identify, disenfranchise and allot working permits to the
infiltrators.
The home ministry under the stewardship of L K Advani, who
known for his strong views over the matter, is keen to kick
off the programme immediately. The Survey conducted by the
Pollster was aimed at guaging the popular mood for its
proposed exercise as it is fraught with the potential of
unleashing an Opposition-sponsored controversy.
According to the Survey, while the respondents in Delhi was
aggessive on the matter, the Calcuttans, too, shared the
perception of the Union government. The respondents, the
Survey claimed, felt that the inflow has put an additional
burden on the scarce resources. However, one-fourth of the
respondents, who were of the view that it was our
``tradition to support the needy'' said that the illegal
immigrants should be given shelter ``on humanitarian
grounds''.
An interesting feature of the home ministry-sponsored
survey is the disagreement with the political class for
politicising the issue.
While a majority of the respondents from Mumbai said the
saffron government was not pursuing the issue with a
correct perspective, Calcuttans have doubted the motive of
the Left Front in opposing the Centre's actions. ``Nobody
is serious on the issue, it is just a political tamasha,''
was the general tone, the survey claimed.
The home ministry is encouraged by another finding of the
survey - that the issue is not seen as aimed against
Bengalis. It may recalled that the BJP-led government had
come under sharp attack in Parliament for the deportation
of few Bangladeshis by the Maharashtra government.
The pollster said the survey covered views of 940
respondents in Mumbai, Delhi and Calcutta. While 67 per
cent justified the immigrant deportation policy, only 25
per cent differed with the government's moves. While 76 per
cent in Mumbai supported it, it was seen as a right step by
66 per cent of Calcutta's respondents.
Survey claimed that 51 per cent saw the violent disapproval
of the deportation policy as one that stems from the
consideration of vote bank politics.
However, 38 per cent did not agree with perception and
sought to see it as an expression of genuine concern.
The home minister, who had stoutly defended the Maharashtra
government in Parliament, has made it clear that the
government was committed to the illegal immigrants
identification programme. Mr Advani, whose words shape the
response of his ministry, has said that the identity cards
would be distributed among the immigrants by net year-end.
The illegal immigrants issue has been a centre-piece of the
BJP's poll pledge and Mr Advani has been successful in
getting the endorsement of allies like the Trinamool
Congress and the Samata Party for his project. As a matter
of fact, a fact-finding team of the Trinamool Congress,
which visited Mumbai when the deportation controversy broke
out, had given a clean chit to the saffron government in
Maharashtra. The government, which is following up the
issue through diplomatic channels, is confident that the
Bangladesh government will not take offence to the
programme.
According to the government man- agers, the suggestion of
work permit for Bangaldeshis is being appreciated by Dhaka.