Congress giving illegal migrants shelter: BJP

Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari here on Wednesday said the ruling Congress party has been giving shelter to illegal migrants in Assam for vote-bank politics and the issue can only be solved with the coordination of the state and the Centre.

Talking to reporters, Mr Gadkari said the NDA government is committed to solving the issue of influx into Assam and since it assumed power at the Centre it has detected and sent a list of 60,000 illegal migrants in the state. But the Congress government has not taken any action on the issue.

Raking up cross-border infiltration, Mr Gadkari said that since the management of borders and fencing comes in the Concurrent List, it is the responsibility of both the state and the Centre to tackle the issue.

Mr Gadkari exuded confidence that the BJP-led alliance would come to power with an absolute majority in Assam. “The voter turnout in the first phase of polling has been very high and it proves that people need change. And BJP is the only alternative.”

Asserting that the BJP-led alliance would see a better result than expected in Upper Assam, Mr Gadkari pointed out the achievements of his government. The BJP has stepped up its campaign for the second phase with national leaders making a beeline for the state to address rallies.

Counting on the achievements of the NDA government, he said his ministry has taken up various road contract projects in the north-eastern states and promised that if voted to power the BJP-led alliance would accelerate the pace of development in Assam.