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Bangladesh influx

Bangladesh influx

Author: Editorial
Publication: The Statesman
Date: July 18, 2003

Introduction: Buddhadeb should make up for past

Just as he did on the issue of madrasas suddenly mushrooming in North Bengal border districts, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has now engaged in some plain speaking on the old problem of illegal immigrants from across the border. The menace has continued ever since the creation of Bangladesh and it is only fair to recall that the BJP have been pointing out for years that the issue has explosive potential. Socio-economic problems the chief minister now talks about have long been obvious but were swept under the carpet for purely political reasons. Jyoti Basu's government turned a blind eye to the large-scale influx because he did not wish to ruffle other Left parties who joined the CPI-M in creating and expanding vote-banks. The result has been alarming: the trickle has turned into a flood and spread from Bengal into other parts of the country.

It does no good to place the ball in the Centre's court although, at another level, there is need to tighten vigil by the BSF in the highly porous border. There is also the need to convince the Bangladesh government, which refuses to acknowledge the existence of infiltration that something needs to be done at the level of the two governments. But at the state level, it has become necessary to check vested political interests that raise a hue and cry every time an effort is made to identify and repatriate infiltrators. While a compassionate view needs to be taken of the human aspects of the problem, the potential threat to the country's stability and well-being can no longer be overlooked. Political and other motives attributed can only enhance tensions as Buddhadeb has rightly suggested. His concern, although late is welcome, if it leads to subordination of party interests and a better concern for the country. It is to be hoped that for once, Alimuddin Street is fully behind the Chief Minister.
 


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