From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari on stated that stated the illegal migrants from Bangladesh thar are swarming Assam was FDI in Congress vote bank in the State and promised to seal the country’s frontiers once BJP came to the power in the Centre.
“It will be our top priority to seal the country’s frontiers once the BJP comes to power. Country’s borders are still largely unguarded. Our policy towards our neighbours will be: we will not attack anyone, no aggression from across the border will be tolerated,” he said.
He said illegal Bangladeshi migrants were gaining ground in Assam because of the Congress’ vote bank policy. All the Congress chief ministers and senior leaders in Assam till date right from Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Md Saidullah to Tarun Gogoi provided red carpet welcome to Bangladeshi migrants which are FDI in Congress’ vote bank.
“If we come to power, our top priority will be to seal the country’s international borders to stop unabated influx,” he said, drawing reference to Israel, which has sealed its borders.
“If Israel, which is surrounded by hostile neighbours, can seal its borders, why not India?” he said.
“To visit any country, one needs a visa and needs to submit a number of documents. But here our country has totally opened up its borders, invited the illegal immigrants to enter our country, buy land, buy property,” Gadkari said and alleged that all the Congress leaders in Assam – from the late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to Gogoi – have encouraged illegal immigrants.
Earlier, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had dared the BJP to bring out a white paper stating in detail what the party had done to solve the problem of illegal migration from Bangladesh while it wasin power in the Centre. The BJP president stated that the next BJP government in the Centre would ensure good economic governance through e-governance to eradicate poverty.
Gadkari was here to flag off the Swahid Shraddhanjali Yatra organised by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to commemorate those Indian Army men who laid down their lives during 1962 Chinese Aggression through Arunchal frontier. The Yatra which has been participated by about 90 people representing 19 organisations will march to Tawang before culminating at Bumla on Chinese frontier in Arunachal Pradesh.
A total of 90 youths from 19 states of the country have joined in the Yatra, which will end at Tawang on October 21. During the yatra, the BJYM activists will pass through Tezpur in Assam, Bomdi La, Dirang and reach Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and hold public meetings at those places.
Gadkari also termed the 1962 war as a blunder and said that even after 50 years of the war, India does not have a border policy.
“Our borders are still open and insecure,” he said, adding that India must learn a lesson from the shortcomings of the 1962 war and ensure that such mistakes are not repeated.
Gadkari said that while India and China can work together for peace and prosperity at the global and regional level, the country cannot ignore threats where they are present.
He cited reports of China’s involvement in building infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Gadkari also maintained that the BJP is not communal.
“The BJP is, in fact, more secular than the Congress,” he said. According to Gadkari, the recent clashes in Assam were not the result of any communal discord, but a struggle between Indians and foreigners. (With inputs from IANS)