Deport Bangladeshis but follow the law, says Patil

HARD TALK: Home Minister sends a tough message to Rajasthan CM in the aftermath of the Jaipur blasts.

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Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil spoke to CNN-IBN on the Jaipur blasts, asking Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to deport illegal Bangaldeshi immigrants, but within the purview of the law. He also said that the state intelligence had much to answer regarding the intelligence failure in the Jaipur serial blasts.

And in a remark that could prove controversial, Patil said the demand for hanging Mohammed Afzal needed to be seen in the context of the clemency plea for Sarabjit Singh.

Excerpts from the interview:

Rajdeep Sardesai: Let’s assume that groups like Bangladesh-based HuJI are responsible. There is a feeling among state governments that the Centre will not let them act against Bangladeshis, particularly illegal Bangladeshi migrants, because you are worried about the human rights impact. How fair is that? Are you ready to give state governments the full right to deport illegal Bangladeshi migrants, as the Rajasthan government wants?

Shivraj Patil: The Rajasthan government should have studied the law itself. They should have studied the notifications, which have been issued to them. The law was passed in 1946 and it has been amended many times, even in 2005. In 1958, the powers, which are available under the law, have been delegated to the states.

Rajdeep Sardesai: This is the Foreigners’ Act?

Shivraj Patil: The Foreigners’ Act…

Rajdeep Sardesai: You are saying that under the Foreigners’ Act the Rajasthan government has the full right on its own to deport illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

Shivraj Patil: That’s right. That is exactly what I am saying.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You will support them if they were to do so?

Shivraj Patil: I have no option. This is a law made by Parliament.

Intelligence, which is collected by RAW gives you the philosophy policy. Intelligence collected by Intelligence Bureau also gives you some hints. But actionable intelligence like which shop or temple in a lane that could be attacked is something, which has to be collected by the state.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You are saying that you don’t see any intelligence failure on the part of the Central agencies?

Shivraj Patil: I am neither patting them on the back nor criticising them. I am just trying to understand what has to be done in order to achieve the objective of controlling terrorism.

Rajdeep Sardesai: The BJP says what is the Home Ministry doing about Afzal’s hanging. Will any decision be taken on Afzal’s hanging?

Shivraj Patil: These are all political questions. If you are going to Pakistan and asking that somebody should not be…

Rajdeep Sardesai: But you have taken no decision as yet.

Shivraj Patil: On one side you said somebody should not be hanged but here in India you say you should hang. Now the question is that there is a procedure laid down for this. Now many countries are thinking that if you can’t give life then don’ take life. And they are insisting that they would not give evidence if you punish a man with death penalty.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Are we to suggest from what you are saying that you don’t intend to hang Afzal.

Shivraj Patil: Not at all. I am not saying whether we are going to hang or not hang him. This is a laid down procedure. The issue first goes to the President, then it’s sent to the Home Minister, then it goes to the state government, which looks into the matter and then advises the Union Government and Home Ministry, which sends advise to the President and then action is taken. We will follow that procedure.