Date:29/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/29/stories/2008092960781500.htm

Front Page

Bangladeshi infiltrators a threat to security: Advani

Sushanta Talukdar

Flood of people to Assam from across the border is a bigger danger, says BJP leader

Advani for issuing multipurpose ID cards to all citizens
Urges Muslims in Assam not to harbour any fear

— PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani being felicitated by Assam BJP leaders at a public meeting in Guwahati on Sunday.

Guwahati: Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Sunday said infiltration of illegal Bangladeshis was a threat to the identity of the people of Assam and country’s security.

Referring to reports about the suspected involvement of Bangladeshis in Saturday’s blast at Mehrauli in Delhi, Mr. Advani said the Bangladeshi infiltrators had become a grave threat.

Addressing a BJP rally here, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that of the two major challenges — the flood and erosion caused by the Brahmaputra and infiltration faced by Assam — the flood of people from Bangladesh was a bigger threat to the people of the State.

He called for pushing back the illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators but urged Muslims in Assam not to harbour any fear. “Assam’s Muslims are our own people. They should harbour no fear. They will not have any problem. But Bangladeshis are real threat. It is the Bangladeshi Muslims who may have to face problems,” he said.

The former Deputy Prime Minister alleged that the Bangladeshis had come to Assam in large numbers as part of an ISI game plan, which must be thwarted.

Mr. Advani said though the All Assam Students’ Union had spearheaded the anti-foreigners agitation, the infiltration still continued.

The senior BJP leader underlined the need for issuing multipurpose identity cards to every citizen based on a National Register of Citizen. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government had initiated the process of issuing such card, which could be used for exercising voting rights, obtaining ration card and other facilities, instead of merely issuing a electors’ identity card. However, the process slowed down after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government took over, he alleged.

Mr. Advani, who arrived here on a two-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya, is scheduled to address a public rally at Shillong on Monday.