Our Civic Responsibility

Image courtesy: Positively Parkinson's

I came across a rather interesting article while browsing the net this evening. Harbouring an illegal immigrant is considered a felony and is punishable by up to five years rigorous imprisonment in India. In the US you have to pay a fine of $250,000 along with a long jail sentence. In light of this information I think it is important for all law abiding citizens to be aware of this and try and help the government to tackle the menace of illegal human traffic and immigration in our country.

If we were to take stock of the number of households that employ fugitives in the form of domestic help and ayahs then we will have to deal with some very uncomfortable facts about wilfully harbouring illegal immigrants. Especially in places like Kolkata, where a very porous border and lax surveillance system sees illegal immigrants pouring into our country and getting busy in various nefarious activities on a regular basis. Bangladeshi immigrants remain fugitives if they do not have proper ration cards, voter’s photo identity cards and valid passports, no matter how long they have lived within the boundaries of India.

It is quite another matter that Bangladeshis are able to bribe their way through most of these hindrances and are even able to procure driver’s license, PAN cards and passports. However, of late the spate of terrorist activities has increased and it has been established that most of the terrorists have been migrants from Bangladesh. The illegal immigrants have prospered under the protection of warring political parties. They have helped to swell the vote bank in the past and will in all probability keep doing so in future. It is ironic that for the sake of a few who indulge in immoral and illegal trade and activities the ones who are trying to make a decent living by working hard are held in scorn and mistrust. But that is the sad story of all humanity, isn’t it?

With the elections round the bend both political parties in the fray will play this issue up in order to establish the remnants of credibility and woo some non partisan voters to their side. So those who are employing or harbouring illegal immigrants had also better watch out for the tide to turn and the long arm of the law to catch up with them.