|
Foreigners’ issue : Congress move to protect minorities |
 |
In view of the coming Assembly elections in the state, the ruling Congress has been making all efforts to win the confidence of the people, particularly migrant minorities who always fear their deportation following the recent Supreme Court judgemment declaring IMDT Act ultra vires.
A day after Congress top guns tried to allay fears of the minorities in post-IMDT Assam at a public rally in Guwahati, the Centre followed it up by deciding to amend a crucial clause of the Foreigners’ Act ostensibly to provide a judicial shield to the community from being harassed as foreigners.
This was disclosed by the Congress minority cell convener Imran Shah on January 9.
The amendment which is expected to be in place by next month, will seek to make it obligatory for the government to refer all disputes over citizenship to tribunals. At present, the clause says that the government “may” refer the cases to the tribunals, giving the executive an option whether to refer the dispute to the judiciary or not.
The amendment has been necessitated to prevent genuine Indian citizens from being harassed in the name of detecting and deporting foreigners, the Congress minority leader said.
Last year, the Supreme Court struck down the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act and ordered that all cases pending in the tribunals under the Act be referred to the tribunals under the Foreigners Act.
Shah said the architect of the IM(DT) Act, Abdul Muhib Mazumdar, has already submitted a draft to the Law Ministry for necessary amendment after consultations with party high command and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
Gogoi, too, had hinted at a possible amendment in the Foreigners Act, saying the Centre has sanctioned the creation of 21 more tribunals under the Act in the state. At present, the state has 11 tribunals under the Foreigners Act.
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, addressing a public rally at Judges Field in Guwahati on Jan. 8 said, the UPA government would take all steps to ensure the safety and security of the minority community.
The political fallout triggered by the apex court’s verdict saw several influential minority organisations, including the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind floating the United Democratic Front (UDF) to protect the interests of minorities.
The organisations accused the Congress of failing to defend the IM(DT) Act properly in court.
|
