New Delhi: BJP on Wednesday welcomed the government move of giving the first ten Unique Identity Cards to tribals but warned that this identification should be granted with caution to prevent illegal immigrants from getting and using it for claiming citizenship.
"BJP welcomes the government step of giving UID cards to
tribals today but wants to draw its attention to the fact that
these should be made for Indians alone as Indian money is
involved. It should also take precautions in border areas
where illegal immigrants should not get it and claim
citizenship," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Ten adivasis from the tribal hamlet of Tembhli in
Nandurbar district of Maharashtra today became the first to
receive the Unique Identity cards from Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
The principal opposition has often raised the issue of
illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India, especially in
the states of Assam, West Bengal and the North-East.
It has in the past accused the Congress of being soft on
illegal migration for "minority appeasement" and votebank
politics, and further alleged that this was leading to changes
in the demographic profile of state like Assam.
Hussain said the scheme of providing UID card is
praise-worthy but it should not become a ground for vote-bank
politics.
"BJP has for long maintained that there should be a check
on illegal immigration," the Lok Sabha MP said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 21:09