Hindu Bengalis from Bangladesh can hope for relief? From our Special Correspondent SILCHAR, July 27: The Hindu Bengalis taking shelter in Assam and other States from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, might hope for relief from being hounded up by police and branded ‘D’ voters, particularly in Assam, for facing trial before the Foreigners’ Tribunals and their inability to prove themselves as Indian citizens would entitle them for push back to the other side of the border. The Supreme Court of India in considering the W(P) 243/12 filled before it by Bimolangshu Roy Foundation on the question of the fate of Bengali Hindus has issued notices to 18 States including Assam and the Centre on Thursday and wanted to know the exact status and the numbers of Hindus taking shelter after being forced to desert their hearths and homes in Bangladesh. The Supreme Court has also wanted to know how many of them have been granted citizenship and what the government concerned is thinking about them or contemplating to take any decision. The notice was issued by two member bench of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice P Sathashivam and Judge Ranjan Gogoi. The notice is returnable at their earliest disposal as directed. Shuvodeep Roy, advocate who was one of the petitioners along with Pinky Ananda and MN Krishnamani, told The Sentinel over telephone from New Delhi that their Writ Petition centered round three main grounds for the consideration of the Supreme Court. The Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act of 1950 which specifically lays down that the Hindus taking shelter in India after being persecuted in Bangladesh should not be deported. Secondly, they have to be provided all sorts of facilities and treated as refugees. The Hindus taking shelter in Gujarat and Rajasthan after facing persecution in Pakistan have been granted citizenship between 2004 and 2007. On the strength of the same Citizenship Act, the Writ Petition asked why Hindus from Bangladesh seeking shelter in Assam and other States should not be granted citizenship. It is to be noted that on the question of NRC update, the next date of hearing fixed by the Supreme Court is July 31. In this context, the notice of the Supreme Court on the status of Hindu Bengalis to 18 States assumes significance. TOP
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 10:25:46 +0000
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