The demand was made during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha by Keshav Prasad Maurya who alleged that some political parties were offering protection to these illegal immigrants and helped them get ration and voter cards so that they can influence polls in their favour.
Claiming that they have become a "decisive factor in over 120 assembly seats" across Assam, West Bengal and Bihar, he said "I demand that all such politicians who in their greed for their votes offer them protection and other facilities should be sentenced to at least life imprisonment."
"Due to support from some political parties, these illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan have settled down in various parts of the country and are availing of the facilities meant for the poor," he said.