BJP flays Centre over influx problem

Kalyan Barooah
BENGALURU, Sept 12 – The battle lines have been drawn, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) taking stock of its election preparedness, even as the party’s national president, Rajnath Singh, today described Union Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan’s demand to grant citizenship to illegal Bangladeshi migrants as a kind of ‘treason’. The three-day national conference being held in a State, where BJP captured power for the first time, marking its maiden entry into the South has been organised on a grand scale. The entire city has been given a festive look, with the party painting the high-tech city saffron. All the streets leading to the venue Late Jagannathrao Joshi Sabhagar at Residency Road have been covered with saffron and green.

The event inaugurated by BJP national president, this morning precisely at the moment, as suggested by astrologers, is being attended by around 240 delegates, including seven BJP chief ministers. BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, LK Advani and top national leaders were also in attendance. The North Eastern States too have a strong representation. Assam BJP delegation is led by its State chief, Ramen Deka.

The second half of the first day was reserved for reports from the States. Tomorrow, a rally is being organised, which would be preceded by discussions on the socio-political situation. Formal resolutions are scheduled to be passed covering a whole gamut of issues ranging from internal security situation to inflation and foreign policy.

Sensing the belligerent mood among the party cadres, the national president lost no time in mounting a vitriolic attack on the ruling UPA Government at the Centre. Though the issues he raised were not new, he sought to put new life into the party’s war cry.

His 24-page address that dealt with all vital issues also had a brief para on the North-east. He made brief references to issues like the illegal migration from Bangladesh and floods in Assam and revival of the river linking project. He did not forget to sympathise with Monica Devi, describing her dismissal as ‘not a wise’ decision.

“Many north eastern states are victims of the shortsighted policies of the Congress. In addition to not trying to resolve the Bangladeshi problem in Assam, the Central Government is not able to take any effective steps for improving the conditions in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland,” he said.

“We are part of the coalition governments in both Meghalaya and Nagaland. The NE States account for a total of 26 Lok Sabha seats. Given the misrule of the Congress in the other states of the region, I am hopeful, that in cooperation with the various political parties there, we would be able to perform well,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that the issue of national security on which there used to be consensus among all the political parties in India, has today also become an element of vote bank politics. While some ministers in this government are trying to define SIMI as a cultural organization, there are others who favour granting citizenship to Bangladeshi infiltrators,” Singh said.

In context of the decision of the Supreme Court, in the IM DT case verdict, if a Cabinet minister of this government speaks in favour of granting citizenship to Bangladeshi infiltrators, in a sense should it not be considered a kind of treason? he asserted.

“On the principle of the collective responsibility of the Cabinet, I would like to ask the government on behalf of the people of this country, that if it is dissociating itself from this statement of its own cabinet minister, then why should this minister not be immediately dismissed from the Cabinet? And if it is in agreement with this statement, then should not actions be taken against the entire government in the light of the Supreme Court’s verdict? he asked.

The Central Government has been blinded by the vote bank politics to such an extent, that it does not want to even acknowledge terrorists. Today, the manner in which the centres of terrorism are being operated from across the border, definitely and clearly reflects the failure of the government foreign policy.

The approach of the government with regard to China has been very slack and weak. China has tried to create a border dispute even in undisputed areas such as Sikkim. Ever since the UPA has come to power, China has been continuously exerting pressure on India. The Indian government appears incapable of offering tough resistance on this front, he said.

The kind of construction activity that China is undertaking in the Himalayan region and Tibet, could adversely impact the environment. India would definitely be affected by this. But the Indian government is not being able to even raise the issue.

“The Prime Minister is slated to visit China in the coming month of October. I demand that the issue of environment of the Himalayan region should be raised by the Prime Minister during his tour to China.”

Now even the Bangladesh Government has accepted the fact that terrorist camps are operating on its soil and Bangladesh Rifles has assured the Border Security Force of cooperation in this regard. Despite this, the government is not being able to take any stringent measures against the terrorist camps in Bangladesh, charged the BJP president. source: assam tribune

Govt, migrants aiding each other: AASU

By A City Reporter GUWAHATI, July 12 – Lambasting the State government for its failure to drive out the illegal Bangladeshi migrants from the State boundaries even after three years of scrapping of the IM (DT) Act by the Supreme Court, the All Assam Students’ Union today alleged that the Tarun Gogoi government, illegal Bangladeshis and fundamentalist forces are supporting one another’s existence in Assam. Launching an agitation programme on the third anniversary of the scrapping of the IM (DT) Act, the students’ body organised a ‘Sangram Dhwani’ programme across the AASU district units in the State with beating of drums and khols, to “organize people against the danger ahead in the form of Bangladeshis.” AASU advisor Samujjal Kr Bhattacharya addressing a gathering at the Latasil playground said that the government cannot turn its back to this apparent threat to the very existence of Assamese community neither it can deny the fact that the fundamentalists and jehadi groups like Al-qaida and ISI are operating from Assam. “Time and again, their existence has been proven in the State,” said Bhattacharya. “As that Gogoi government is patronizing the illegal migrants from Bangladesh and thereby pleasing the fundamentalist forces, no doubt that they would like the Congress government to continue,” he added. Once again warning the political parties of the State to think beyond vote-bank politics for the greater interest of the State, he also went hammer and tongs against the Assam Gana Parishad and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for “cheating” the people of the State after assuming power. “To get the Bangladeshi vote, Mahanta and his ministers forgot all the promises they made to the people of the State and provisions of Assam Accord, signed 23 years back. The students’ body also condemned the ruling alliances in the Centre for not giving due importance to the problem of illegal influx in the State. “Whereas, the Indo-Pakistan border was sealed completely in three years with barbed wire and arrangements of electronic lights were done, on Indo-Bangladesh Border, even the fencing work has not been completed in last 23 years,” added AASU generally secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi.“Illegal intrusion is no more a border problem. These unwelcome guests are now occupying our protected areas of tribal blocks, belts, our national parks and wildlife sanctuaries,” Bhattacharyya reiterated. “The problem, which was recognised by the Supreme Court three years back, is still haunting the State. Now, the common people, disgusted with the political leaders would take the reins in their hands to drive out the illegal intruders,” he added. Expressing solidarity with the AASU, the chief advisor of All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union Bhaskar Dahal, advisor of Moran Students’ Union Biranchi Neog, Khanindra Chandra Das of All Assam Semi-Central Employees Association and president of All Assam Dimasa Students’ Union Prafulla Hafila assured the ASSU of their whole-hearted support in the movement against the illegal immigrants. source: assam tribune