Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara | Photo Credit: ANI

Bengaluru: Amid the ongoing controversy over the presence of a large number of illegal immigrants in the country, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said no foreigner would be allowed to stay in the state without proper documentation. He further said action would be taken against those staying illegally.

Taking a tough stance, the deputy CM said more than 100 African nationals with expired visa have been identified. “There are Bangladeshis in Bangalore and we're sending them back. We've already identified more than 100 African nationals whose visa had expired, and we're deporting them too. We won't let anyone stay in Bangalore without valid papers,” he said.

Parameshwara was speaking in the context of publication of draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. Names of more than 40 lakh people in Assam do not figure in the draft NRC, which is being prepared to identify illegal migrants in the state.

The NRC issue triggered a slugfest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stirred a controversy by saying that the list will divide the people and create a civil war-like situation in the country. BJP president Amit Shah retorted by saying that the TMC chief is “dangerously trying to mislead” the people of the country. Shah had also asked the Congress and other Opposition parties to clarify their stand on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the country.