Bengaluru: The Centre should allow the state to deport overstaying foreign nationals stated Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday when quizzed about on overstaying foreign students.

Parameshwara mentioned that while there are standing instructions to the police to take action against overstaying foreigners they are bound by certain constraints. Since deportation may not be appreciated by the foreign embassies the minister said that he was looking at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to deal with this issue adding that they need the Centre’s permission.

Asked how many foreign students are overstaying in Bengaluru, he said they could be between 1,500 and 2,000. “We are very clear about foreign nationals overstaying in the state.?They should either get their visas renewed or get out of the state,” the minister said.

Meanwhile Dasarahalli MLA?S Muniraju on Saturday while inaugurating the new Bagalgunte police station had raised concerns over peace and harmony in his constituency due to trouble created by a section of the Africans living here calling for the state government to put an end to the menace created by them.

According to the MLA, there are over 20,000 non-Karnataka and foreign students living in the Dasarahalli constituency alone. “Students from foreign countries, especially the African countries, are creating problems for local residents. Two Nigerians nationals mowed down a woman by recklessly driving a car, which became an international issue a few months ago. When local residents object to their behaviour, foreign students raise questions about their safety and security in the city. Considering the reputation of Bengaluru and interests of the local residents, tough action should be taken against such people,” he said.