New Delhi: The Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act (IMDT), which is in operation in Assam, would remain in statute books and there is no move now to repeal it, Lok Sabha was informed today (Dec 14, 2004).

"The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government was in favour of repealing the IMDT Act. But the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government wants that it should remain in the statute books," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said during Question Hour.

He said that the UPA Government's view was that in earlier laws, to deal with the problem of illegal immigration, the onus of proof was on the concerned person, whereas the onus was on the Government in the IMDT Act.

Referring to some members' concerns that Bengali-speaking citizens from West Bengal and Assam were being harassed in Maharashtra and Delhi, he said that though there was the problem of illegal immigration, the Government was concerned that genuine citizens are not harassed.

Observing that the Foreigners Act as well as IMDT Act provided for safeguards, he said, "In case of the IMDT Act, the tribunal takes a final decision as to who is a foreigner ... We are trying to do justice and not perpetrate injustice against anyone."

He said that a pilot project to provide multi-purpose identity cards to all citizens and to have a National Register of Citizens was in progress.