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In a significant disclosure, Union Government has conceded that despite construction of border fencing and roads along the Indo-Bangladesh border illegal infiltration from across the border still continued. Though the construction of fencing and roads, to the extent it has been completed, has helped to improve surveillance and monitoring, the problem of illegal migration through the Indo-Bangladesh border continues, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Vidyasagar Rao said in a reply in the Rajya Sabha today, adding that entire fencing project is targeted to be completed by 2007.
The minister's confirmation of unabated infiltration from Bangladesh assumes significance because it came at a time when External Affairs Ministry has managed to pressurise the Government of Bangladesh to put a curb on all kind of cross-border movements including illegal infiltration.
Meanwhile, the Minister said a total of 362.88 km of road length was approved for construction in both phases of the project. Out of this, 2565.2 km have been completed. Significantly in a separate reply the Minister ruled out creation of a new force to fight cross border terrorism. The Minister, however, added that recommendation of the Group of Ministers on Internal Security about deploying one border force has been accepted by the central government. The recommendation was to deploy one border force on one border to avoid multiplicity of forces.
Meanwhile, India has not taken kindly to construction of a shopping complex on no man's land' by Myanmar near Moreh in Manipur, seeking a joint inspection immediately for an early and amicable solution of the problem. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, ID Swami informed the Rajya Sabha that the issue was raised by India at the recent national level meeting between the two countries held early this month. The matter came to the notice of the Union Government following a report by Manipur Government that Myanmar has constructed a shopping complex at Tamu possibly too close to the international border.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister, George
Fernandes said India was concerned about China's continuing military assistance
to the neighbouring countries including Pakistan and Myanmar. The Minister
in a reply in the Rajya Sabha said China has been modernising its armed
forces since the last two decades, with the thrust on introduction of high
technology. Meanwhile in a reply to a question tabled by Dhrupad Borgohain,
Minister of State for Home has said that ULFA has not yet come forward
for peace talks within the parameters of the Constitution.
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