SHRI MANORANJAN BHAKTA (ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS): Mr. Chairman, I rise to participate in the discussion on the resolution moved by Shri Jagat Vir Singh Drona on 13th December, 1996.

If we go through this resolution, we will find that principally there should not be any objection for moving such a resolution.

The question that arises here is that it is not only the question of identifying the foreign nationals who have come to this country illegally but also there are some other intentions behind it and that point has to be discussed. Here, the question is about the illegal immigrants. This is a global problem. This problem is there not only in India but there are many countries where the Indian people have entered illegally and those countries are also expressing the same type of concern as our Members are doing here. At the same time, one point has to be understood in the correct perspective. In those times, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan were all one country. The India of those times comprised Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and it was one country. It was one India at that time. But due to political division, that one India has become three countries now. That is why, ethnically and culturally, where the same type of people are there, there is naturally a trend because this side, some relations are there and that side, some relations are there. So, we shall have to discuss this point taking into account all these perspectives. Otherwise, simply taking out one question of illegal immigrants and discussing here cannot help. This question cannot be resolved.

I know what had happened in the past. I am also a refugee settled down in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There are many other friends of mine who have settled down in India. They migrated to this country after partition. We were all one country men. We had one citizenship. But due to the partition of the country, we became the foreigners. All of a sudden, a section of the population of this country became foreigners after the partition of the country.

Sir, at that time, there was a commitment made by the Government of India saying the Government would take care of the life and property of those people who were minorities, who would come to this part of the country. What should have been done was, unfortunately, not done. Even today, lakhs and lakhs of people who migrated to this part of the country are roaming round here and there without any kind of facilities provided by the Government. I have seen what is happening in Pilibhit, Nainital and Bijnore. There are people coming to me and telling about the problems. Those people are staying here for the last 20 years, 25 years, 30 years and 35 years. Yet, those people are being termed as foreigners. This Resolution mentions about the period as "since 1975". I would like to know whether this is practised. Whenever anything is done which is politically motivated, whenever it goes on a linguistic basis, somebody, for example, speaking in Bengali is immediately termed as a foreigner. Whether it is Mumbai, whether it is Pilibhit or whether it is Nainital, such a person speaking that language is termed as a foreigner. So, our apprehension is this. Principally, there cannot be any two opinions that those who are foreigners, they are to be detected and taken out of the country. There cannot be any two opinions about that. But while doing so, there are some political motivations. At that time, it is misused. Previously also, it was misused.

Time and again, this question was raised in this House saying how the figures are given. The Member who has spoken just now has rightly said that there are lakhs and lakhs of figures given here and, in reality, you will not find those figures. But those figures are floated. The reason is only one. The reason is just to mislead this country to show how grave it is and how the Government is not concerned about it. That is, perhaps, the intention behind it.

Another important point that I would like to mention here is about the citizenship.

MR. CHAIRMAN (SHRI CHITTA BASU): Shri Manoranjan Bhakta, you mention it next time. You can continue next time.

The House stands adjourned to meet at 5 p.m. today.

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