Date:22/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/22/stories/2003012206180100.htm

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Cooper incident, an eye-opener, says Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 21. The Minister of State for Home, Ch.Vidyasagar Rao, today said the recent instance of the American missionary, Joseph Cooper, overstaying in the country should serve as an `eye-opener' to all States.

Addressing a press conference here, he said any foreigner could be deported for carrying on activities prejudicial to the interest of the country, or affected social harmony or was a threat to maintenance of public peace. He said the Centre was constantly sharing intelligence with the States, especially on visitors who overstayed or had entered the country illegally and indulged in such acts.

He said the action taken by the Kerala Police asking Mr. Cooper to leave the country within a week would send the right signal that the country would not be soft on foreigners who violated the laws of the land. Mr. Rao said all the States had the power to trace foreigners who overstayed and deport them.