The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre and the Election Commission of India on a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the presence of nearly two crore illegal Bangladeshi migrants and striking their names off the electoral rolls in various states as they adversely affect the security and demographic composition of the country.
A bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti, Justice G P Mathur and Justice P P Naolekar admitted the PIL filed by NGO 'Image India Foundation', which specifically pointed out that the state of Assam was the worst affected by illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate C D Singh contended that there was an alarming growth in the population due to illegal immigration resulting in change of demographic pattern, illegal enrolment in electoral roll, adverse impact on development as well as a serious threat to national security.
"As a result of population movement from Bangladesh, the indigenous people of Assam are being reduced to a minority in their home state," he said adding other affected states included Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi, Tripura, Nagaland and Maharashtra.
The NGO stated that 85% of the total encroached forest land in Assam was found to be in the hands of illegal Bangladeshi migrants who also have a major say in 43 out of the 126 assembly constituencies of the state.
On the security threat, the petitioner said the Indian establishment suspects existence of a close nexus between the illegal migrants and the extremist groups operating in the Northeastern states.
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