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.