'Assam must bear burden, who else?'

Centre firm on regularising minority refugees

Not practical to relocate migrants to other states, Assam bore the load in 1971 too: VK Singh

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Sept 16: In what may fan the flames of growing protests against the Centre's recent notification regularizing the stay of minority migrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan, Union Minister of State for Exterl Affairs VK Singh today insisted that states like Assam which have proximity to the two countries will have to take the burden of such immigrants.

“Who else will take? They will obviously come to neighbouring states like Assam . They (immigrants) will not go to Delhi or Bangalore,” Singh said in response to queries at a press conference here.

He also said it was not “practical” to relocate these refugees to other states.

“Even in 1971, hordes of such immigrants had come to Assam. They eventually integrated with the society,” Singh reminded.

The Central Government has recently decided, on humanitarian considerations, to exempt Bangladeshi and Pakistani tiols belonging to minority communities who have entered into India on or before December 31, 2014 from the relevant provisions of rules and order made under the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946, in respect of their entry and stay in India without such documents or after the expiry of those documents, as the case may be. The Central Government has accordingly issued two notifications in the Official Gazette under the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946.

Asked if he would ask the government to reconsider the decision citing the growing protests, Singh replied in the negative.

“There are groups which are bent on creating misunderstandings in society. They have done it in the case of big dams. And now they have picked up this issue,” Singh alleged.

Earlier, Singh launched the Mudra Bank scheme here set up to provide funding to the non-corporate small business sector.

Under the scheme, select banks will give loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh without any collateral.