& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

10 m Bangladeshis living in India illegally, claims Dixit

By Rabat Fahmida in New Delhi
The Indian Foreign Secretary, J N Dixit has claimed that the number of the so-called Bangladeshi Illegal immigrants living in his country today varies between eight to nine and a half a million and that most of them arrived thert after the return of the refugees during the Liberation War. "It is a post-1973 phenomenon," he adds.
However, during an exclusive interview to The Daily Star, conducted here last week, India's top-most civil servant in Foreign Ministry virtually conceded the difficulties in verification. But he argued that the issue had been the subject of "continuous discussion" among secretaries of foreign and home ministries of -the two countries "especially in last two to three years."
Dixit said, "Neither your country nor mine has a system of identity cards. Only those who travel on legitimate business carry passports. So. when are the people subjected to verification when there is a movement of populations under economic pressure? As in Bengal and Assam through which people move, the language is the same and people look alike. So, how do you differentiate them? However, at the sub-district level or In villages, people know the newcomers and they also know
where they have come from." When asked whey there was no prior consultation between Dhaka and New Delhi before the so-called Bangladeshi immigrants were pushed back, Dixit suggested that there had been "continuous discussion" on the subject between the two governments.
He said. "The matter was raised not as an operation of moving people back but as one of illegal immigration. It was raised when your Prime Minister came here and I brought it up with Bangladesh Secretaries for Foreign Affairs and Home when I was in Dhaka last August. See, as 1 told them, the numbers (of Immigrants) are large and the trend Is increasing. So we will be taking some definite action which will be little more visible. 1 said that, so that there Is no unnecessary misunderstanding."
In this connection, Dixit disclosed that Bangladesh Home Secretary was to visit New Delhi for a discussion on various Issues. However, he has found it Impossible to make the trip due to "some reasons". Dixit did not indicate when the Home Secretaries of the two countries might meet to review the situation.
Replying to another question, the Foreign Secretary said that while "naturally
Bangladesh parliament took note of It and was critical, there was also public opinion here that when there is this problem, we should have more patient negotiations." Then, he added, "This is our present approach," thus hinting that the operation would remain suspended until differences were sorted out through further talks.
Discussing what he called a "special operation" rather than a "push back" or "push in" exercise. he agreed with the view that the Indian move had caused hardship to people affected by it. "It Is certainly tragic that people are subjected to such an action," he added.
However. he claimed that his gvrmtnrnt had been "very measured" In dealing with this matter which he regarded as an issue of serious demographic importance to India.
When asked if India had received an agreement from Bangladesh for fencing off the border and whether such a move would resolve the problem of "illegal" immigration, Dixit asked somewhat bluntly, "Why should we have to get an agreement from a foreign country when we are putting up a fence on our side of the border?"
However, taking a more'
moderate line, he added, "We really do not know whether It will pul an end to the probk-m. but It will. in some measure, reduce Its Intensity. Bangladesh has been aware of this plan. It has been announced publicly that we are going to do this.'
Turning to the forthcoming SAARC Summit which Dhaka hosts next week, the Foreign Secretary agreed with this correspondent that the Indo Bangladesh problems cast a shadow over the regional grou ping.
Dixit said, These problems certainly prevent SAARC from achieving its full potential at a faster pace However, the very fact that despite these problems, the grouping continues to gain strength In some of Its activities provides a proof that SAARC has been making determined efforts to remove the shadows which remain.'
He. then, expressed the hope that through consolidation of programmes and pro jccts discussed st the Colombo Summit. SAARC member countries would achieve their targets In many fields. Including Increased trade and com merer within the region