New Delhi:
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has called for “strict action” against Bangladeshi immigrants living illegally in the national capital.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government and the city's police chief, Mr. Saxena has demanded a special drive in the next sixty days to identify and deport illegal immigrants as per existing rules and in a time-bound manner.
This move follows representations by delegations of Muslim community leaders from the Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin and Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin; they expressed concern about attacks in Bangladesh on Hindus and other minority communities and said they wanted retaliatory action against “infiltrators” from that country living in the national capital.
“They have demanded that illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh should not be given houses on rent or employment by any institution. Their children should not be admitted to government or private schools,” they stated, and also demanded the withdrawal of government documents, such as Aadhaar or voter IDs, which have been obtained illegally,” the LG’s office said.
“In the wake of the gravity and gravity of the issue, the Lieutenant Governor has demanded that a two-month special drive be launched to take stringent and time-bound action….”
Discontent with illegal immigrants from Bangladesh has increased dramatically in recent weeks following attacks on Hindus in that country; On Saturday, police in Tripura's Agartala arrested ten Bangladeshis – from the Hindu community – for entering the country illegally.
Authorities and some citizens in Tripura, which shares a border with Bangladesh, have been particularly vocal and harsh on the issue. Earlier this month, an association of hoteliers said it would not accept bookings from tourists from Bangladesh and that restaurants would not serve them food.
More than fifty protesters also vandalized the Bengal Mission in Agartala.
India – which has expressed concern about a “wave” of violence against Hindus – described the incident as “deeply regrettable” and said diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted. However, India also called on Bangladesh to protect all minorities living in its territory.
Ties between India and Bangladesh have come under strain since the country's interim government – led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus – came to power following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.
Since then, at least three Hindu priests – from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, starting with Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari – have been arrested. He has been charged with sedition. Several temples have also been destroyed.
The Yunus government has reaffirmed “in the strongest terms” that every Bangladeshi, regardless of their religious identity, has the “right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals and practices, or to express views without hindrance.”
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