Advani clean chit to Maharashtra angers Oppn

Opposition members took serious objection to Advani’s statement that there might be some aberration in the action of the Maharashtra Government but there was nothing wrong in it. It prompted S B Chavan to say that the remark amounted to a value judgement, especially when the matter was pending before the Calcutta High Court. Advani however agreed to withdraw his remark.

The Home Minister said the problem of illegal migrants was a complex issue and so far no government had taken steps to tackle it. Since it was not feasible to deportmillions of illegal migrants, the government decided to maintain a citizens’ register and issue identity cards.

Similarly, there would be a register for the non-citizens also and they would also be given some sort of identity cards, akin to work permit cards, he added.

The proposal for a non-citizens register and identity cards for them had also been appreciated by the Bangladesh Prime Minister, the Home Minister said.

About the Maharashtra Government’s action, Advani told the House that the Union Home Secretary had been directed to ask the chief secretaries of Maharashtra and West Bengal to meet here and sort out the issue amicably.A meeting of all Chief Ministers would also be convened to elicit their opinion on the illegal migrants issue, he said.