Date:17/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/17/stories/2005071705660800.htm

National

BJP to oppose any move to revive Act

Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday alleged that the Centre's decision to form a Group of Ministers to examine the Supreme Court verdict scrapping the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act 1983 gave rise to suspicion that the Government was planning new legislation on the lines of the scrapped Act.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said his party and the National Democratic Alliance would oppose any move by the Congress to "give a rebirth" to the Migrants Act. Apart from opposing the move on the floor of Parliament, the BJP would mobilise public opinion.

Reacting to Union Law Minister H.R. Bharadwaj's statement that the Centre would not seek a review of the court verdict, Mr. Mahajan asked what then was the need to form a Group of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister himself.

The BJP would like all nationalistic forces to unite to ensure that the scrapping of the Act remained final.

Mr. Mahajan said the stand of the Congress on illegal immigrants was the same as that of Bangladesh.