New Delhi: Stating that the estimates of illegal Bangladeshis staying in India were "awful and frightening", Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on February 19 assured Rajya Sabha that government would take all measures to deport them back.

"The estimates are very large, awful and frightening and we are determined to reverse the process," Advani said replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour.

Advani said Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mohammad Morshed Khan during his recent visit to India had assured that his government would look into the problem.

There were no firm estimates available with the Centre on the number of Bangladeshis illegally staying in the country, Advani said and sought co-operation from state governments in dealing with the problem.

He said this problem was taken up in earnest during the chief secretaries' meeting last year and the Chief Ministers' conference in January this year.

The Deputy Prime Minister said to prevent harassment of Indians on the Bangladesh border, a series of measures including fencing of the border had been undertaken.

On a suggestion by Congress member Pranab Mukherjee that identity cards be issued to Indian citizens in these areas, Advani said the Centre would develop a National Register of Citizens and identity cards were proposed to be issued to all Indian citizens.

Advani said the government was worried about possible anti-India activities of some illegal Bangladeshis and the Bangladesh Foreign Minister said he would take cognisance of it.

He said though the problem of illegal immigration existed in many countries, it may not be as acute as it is in India.

"I doubt any country in the world is facing this problem of the dimension we are facing today," Advani said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said all states should assist in tackling this problem. He said recently the Bangladesh government refused to take back the Bangladeshis who had entered into India from near Cooch Bihar border.

It took them back only after lot of persuasion, he said. Rashtreeya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav said the Centre was following a duel policy of giving shelter to harassed illegal immigrants and at the same time wanting to push them out.

PTI