Assam Governor SC Mathur recently raised an interesting issue when he demanded that the Army should be entrusted with the responsibility of fencing the international border with Bangladesh and one hopes that the Government of India will take serious note of the demand by the Constitutional head of Assam. The Governor’s contention is that the process of fencing the international border slowed down as different agencies were entrusted with the job and lack of proper coordination between the agencies was one of the main reasons for the present state of affairs. The Governor even raised the demand before the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram. It is a fact that the slow progress of fencing the international border is a matter of serious concern and the border still remains porous making it easy for Bangladeshi nationals and even elements of anti-India forces to sneak into India from the neighbouring country. The slow progress of fencing the border also raised doubts on the sincerity of the Government in sealing the international border. The Government started the process of fencing the border in the late 1980s only after the signing of the Assam Accord and till date, the work has not been completed, which is very unfortunate and over the years, several deadlines issued by the Centre in this regard expired. The Centre is now claiming that the work would be completed by March, 2010 and one hopes that this time the deadline would be met. In comparison, the border with Pakistan in Punjab was fenced in three years, which proved that the North East did not receive due attention from Delhi. The quality of the fencing along the international border with Bangladesh is also much inferior and this was pointed out way back in 1998 by then Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha in a report to the President of India. Only recently, the Centre approved a proposal to install floodlights along the fencing, which should have been done long back.
The Union Home Minister recently also assured the Governor to make the visa rules more stringent to prevent Bangladeshi nationals from staying back in India after entering the country with proper travel documents. It is a fact that every year, lakhs of Bangladeshi nationals visit India with proper travel documents, but a number of them stay back by mingling with the local population. The Government of India must seriously look into this disturbing trend and the regulations for issuing visa to Bangladeshi nationals should be made more stringent to prevent this practice. Moreover, the Government of India must put pressure on Bangladesh to accept the Bangladeshi nationals sought to be pushed back after they are either apprehended by the security agencies or declared as foreigners by the tribunals set up under the provisions of the Foreigners’ Act. ASSAM TRIBUNE
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