India says it plans to deport an estimated 20-million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants deemed to be a security threat.
The country's Home Ministry announced the campaign today (Tuesday) after a meeting of Indian security officials in New Delhi. It says the deportation campaign will take place between April and June.
The ministry says the presence of so many illegal immigrants poses a serious threat to internal security. It says authorities need to tackle the problem with what it calls the "utmost urgency and seriousness."
The ministry did not explain how people would be identified for deportation.
India shares a long eastern border with Bangladesh.
Also at the meeting, India's Deputy Prime Minister L-K Advani said steps should be taken to find and deport illegal Pakistani immigrants. Mr. Advani -- who is also India's home minister -- called on state governments to target more than 11-thousand Pakistanis living illegally in the country.
He said there is no reason why Indian states should be soft on illegal Pakistanis. India accuses Pakistan of sending Muslim rebels across the border to join the 13-year insurgency against Indian rule in Kashmir. Pakistan denies the claim.