J&K Govt must augment Centre’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants: BJP
Jammu, May 21: J&K BJP Wednesday exhorted the J&K administration to take immediate steps on the ground to ìaugment the efforts of the union government in the deportation of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingyas to secure the nation from the threats that may arise internally.î
J&K BJP spokesperson Rajni Sethi, while addressing a press conference at party headquarters at Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, quoted the recent remark of the Supreme Court of India that ëIndia is not a Dharamshala,í and said that it reinforced the nation's ìsovereign right to regulate who resides within its borders.î
ìThis statement gains added urgency in light of the horrific terrorist attack on April 22, which targeted innocent tourists. The incident has deeply shocked the entire country and raised serious concerns about internal security, especially in sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir,î Sethi said.
Pardeep Mahotra, media in-charge, J&K BJP; Prerna Nanda, secretary Mahila Morcha and Suman Raina, treasurer, Mahila Morcha, J&K BJP accompanied Sethi during the presser.
Rajni Sethi said, ìThe Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led J&K administration must take immediate steps on the ground to augment the efforts of the Union government in their deportation.î
ìIn response to the Pahalgam attack, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a directive to identify and deport all illegal Pakistani nationals residing in India. What is especially alarming is that many of these individuals have been living in India for years and possess Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and ration cardsófraudulently obtained through illegal means. This not only undermines our national identity systems but also poses a direct threat to our internal security and national integrity,î Sethi noted with concern.
She said that the issue did not end with illegal Pakistanis. Large numbers of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants have also entered India illegally and settled in various states and Union Territories. Their presenceoften undocumented and unmonitored represents a serious challenge to the law-and-order situation, she said.
ìIt is well known that some of these individuals have been involved in illegal activities, including human trafficking, smuggling and radicalization. The demographic impact of their settlement also causes social and political unrest in various regions. Recognizing these risks, the MHA has directed all states and Union Territories to begin a thorough verification of documents possessed by suspected illegal migrants,î the BJP leader said.
Referring to the MHA directive, she said that it also called for the establishment of detention centres where these individuals could be housed during the verification and deportation process.
ìThis move is in line with Indiaís national interest and legal framework. It is important to note that India is not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Therefore, international refugee laws are not binding on India, giving the country full authority to act according to its legal frameworkóin this case, the Foreigners Act, 1946,î Sethi said.
She pointed out that the law grants the government the power to detect, detain, and deport illegal foreign nationals. No international pressure can override the constitutional and legislative prerogatives of India when it comes to safeguarding its national security, she said.
ìWe, as responsible citizens, have complete faith in the central leadership and the police administration of our Union Territories. We trust that they will carry out this important process with urgency, transparency, and due diligence. We also expect full cooperation from all state governments in implementing the MHA's directives without political bias or delay,î Sethi said.
