Govt to be firm with illegal migrants: PM
by Peter Alex Todd

      Guwahati: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that his government would not show or extend mercy on the issue of illegal infiltration, but assured that genuine citizens would not be harassed in the name of detecting foreigners on Indian soil. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati here at the start of his two-day election-related visit to Asom, the Prime Minister said, "I want to assure the people of Assam that we will show no mercy on the issue of illegal infiltration. At the same time all genuine citizens of the state have my assurance that in the name of detection of foreigners they are not harassed." Speaking further on the issue he said, "We will take all positive steps to prevent illegal infiltration." Commenting on the issue of insurgency in the state, Dr. Singh expressed his seriousness about the need for maintaining continuity of the peace dialogue with the ULFA, and added that his government would try its best to bring back the rebels into the social mainstream. However, he ruled out any discussions with the insurgent outfit ULFA on the issue of sovereignty. "The question does not arise. We are all servants of the Constitution of India and the Constitutional position is quite clear on this," the Prime Minister said. "If ULFA wants to talk, they are open to raise any issue they want but that does not mean all issues are open for negotiations," he added. Asked whether the peace process with ULFA would continue in the event of a non-Congress government coming to power in Assam, he said a Congress government at the Centre and a party government in the state will provide the best possible option to find a solution to the "intricate problem".

     Replying query that whether the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) recommendation on amending the Foreigners Act superseded the Supreme Court verdict repealing Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal Act (IMDT), the Prime Minister said the apex court`s judgement "is final". However, Prime Minister said, it was the government`s duty to ensure that the repeal of the IMDT Act does not cause any harassment of genuine citizens in the detection process. About the development of the state he said, "Various schemes of development will be started for the people of Assam and any impediments on the way would be resolved soon." Continuing to lay focus on the 'Look-East' policy initiated by the UPA government, the PM said that since 1991, it had been the policy of Congress to improve the country's relations with its South-East neighbours. He added that the North-East region would play a significant role in achieving this goal. He also said that the Congress government at the Centre and at Asom would work in the interest of the people of the state. He also stressed that improving connectivity in North-East states would be the top priority of UPA government. The two-stage election for the 126 Assembly seats in Asom begins on Monday. The second phase of polling takes place on April 10. Manmohan Singh is to address two election rallies at Nalbari in western Assam and in the silk town of Sualkuchi near Guwahati. He will also address a rally in Tezpur in northern Assam, the opposition Asom Gana Parishad-dominated area from where its president Brindaban Goswami is contesting. On Sunday, the Prime Minister is to address an election meeting in the troubled eastern Karbi Anglong district, the scene of a bloody ethnic riot recently that claimed more than 100 lives. Campaigning for the first phase of elections ends at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

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