DARJEELING, December 20 — The BJP has demanded identification and deportation of illegal immigrants, who are allegedly “causing population explosion” in the region.
The district BJP sent a memorandum highlighting their demand to the Prime Minister as well as the chief minister today. A copy was also sent to the DGAHC chairman, Mr Subash Ghisingh.
Noting that the problem is “especially immense” in the Hills, the memorandum identifies Tibet, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan as sources of “illegal immigrants” in the region. According to the party, the situation “may take a violent political turn” in future.
Mr Ashok Lepcha, general secretary, district BJP, said that a lot of Tibetan refugees living in the region had procured citizenship illegally. It was the same with citizens of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh who had managed to get ration cards and their names on Indian voters’ list.
Mr Lepcha observed that these illegal citizens were “eating into the job opportunities for bona fide citizens and locals, causing tension.” “If this problem is not solved soon, there will be law and order problem in the region,” he said. Notably, the party has always spoken out on the presence of Bangladeshi refugees in the state, including the region. However, it is for the first time that Nepalis, Tibetans and Bhutanese living in the region have been brought under the party blacklist.
The district committee has demanded setting up of a commission under the chairmanship of a High Court Judge to look into the matter. “We want the illegal immigrants to be identified and deported,” said Mr Lepcha, adding, “the Foreigners Act must be implemented properly in the district.”
“This region is sensitive and the government cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the influx of immigrants here,” the memorandum said.
Mr Lepcha also attributed the problem to “lack of proper administrative will.” “The growth of urban population in the region has increased by 27.55 per cent during the period 1971-81, while the rural population grew only by 3.31 per cent, indicating influx of illegal immigrants,” the memorandum said.
