BJP to curb influx of Bangladeshi migrants: Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday alleged that illegal infiltration by Bangladeshis had created 'havoc' in Assam and neither the Congress nor Asom Gana Parishad governments had made any effort to stop the influx.

"Gujarat has borders with Pakistan while Assam has with Bangladesh. In my state Pakistanis have not been able to create any problem, but in Assam Bangladeshis have created havoc," Modi said.

"Bharatiya Janata Party will never allow Assam to become a Bangladesh controlled state. The party is committed to resolving the issue of Bangladeshi migrants and the problem can be solved only if the party comes to power," Modi said addressing two BJP campaign rallies at Naoboicha in Lakhimpur district and in neighbouring Dhemaji.

Pointing that BJP has always been accused of being a communal party, he said, "Yes, I admit we are communal but only on the issue of illegal Bangladeshis and not on any other case."

BJP, he said, had time and again asked the government to complete the work of border sealing in an effective manner as this is the only way influx can be stopped but both the Congress and earlier AGP dispensations failed to act on it.

Referring to insurgency in Assam, Modi said there has been no progress on peace talks and the Congress government is not at all serious about solving the problem.

"BJP is very serious on this issue and will strive to find a permanent solution to the problem once and for all," he said.

Modi lamented that Assam with its mineral resources of coal and oil, was comparable to the Arab world but it had not been properly utilised and the people had not benefited at all.

"In Gujarat we have natural gas pipelines in villages and there is possibility of the same. But the Congress government has not taken any initiative in this regard," he added.