No foreigner would be allowed to stay illegally in state: Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara today said no foreigner would be allowed to stay in the state without proper documentation.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, he said action would be taken against those staying illegally.

Parameshwara was responding to a query on the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in Karnataka, in the context of publication of draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

"Police have already identified 123 foreigners of African origin and suitable action would follow soon.

No foreigner, be it Bangladeshi or African, will be allowed to stay without proper documentation. We will deport them," he asserted.

Names of over 40 lakh people in Assam do not figure in the draft NRC, which is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in the state.

The second draft of the NRC was published in Guwahati earlier this week.

In view of the demand for separate north Karnataka, Parameshwara set aside the claim of alleged injustice meted out to the northern part of the state.

The state government was committed to the overall development of North Karnataka region, he added.

Noting that the bandh called by several outfits in 13 districts of north Karnataka today was not successful as it lacked public support, Parameshwara said no political party should support such a move to divide the state.

The bandh call has resulted in political slugfest between Congress-JD(S) ruling coalition and opposition BJP, with each blaming the other for instigating "separatist sentiments."