Southern States - Kerala   

BJYM for case-by-case approach to `overstaying'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI FEB. 11. Political differences with the UDF Government apart, the Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has no quarrel with the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony's call for a humanitarian approach while dealing with "overstaying'' Pakistani nationals in the State.

Briefing press persons here today, the State president of the BJYM, M.T. Ramesh, said the very old among the "overstaying'' Pakistani nationals of Kerala origin should be allowed to stay on on humanitarian grounds.

However, unlike Mr. Antony who is open to allowing most of the "overstaying'' Pakistani nationals to stay on as a majority of them were in their 70s and 80s, and were of Kerala origin, the BJYM is of the view that only the very old should be allowed to stay. Also, according to Mr. Ramesh, instead of adopting a blanket policy, a case-by-case approach ought to be adopted.

This past Saturday, in his address at the conference of Chief Ministers here, Mr. Antony had brought up the issue of deportation of foreign nationals. About the overstaying of 345 Pakistani nationals in the State, he said a majority of them were of Kerala origin and were in their 70s and 80s. "There is a human dimension to this problem. My Government is evolving a political consensus on their plight and would be approaching the Government of India as soon as this is done,'' he said.

Later, briefing the media, the Chief Minister said he would convene an all-party meeting in the near future to evolve a political consensus on this ticklish issue. He also indicated that the BJP would be involved in this process though the party had no representation in the Assembly.

At today's press conference, Mr. Ramesh also accused the Muslim League of indirectly fanning religious extremism in the State though it had been founded with the mandate of bringing the Muslims into the national mainstream.

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