India's principal opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said that unabated Bangladeshi infiltration has altered the demographic profile in Assam. It alleged the ruling Congress Government of encouraging the influx for political gains.
"There is an abnormal rise in the number of voters in Assam with illegal migrants from Bangladesh entering the state in large numbers. The influx has severely changed the state's demographic profile," BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters in Guwahati.
"Infiltration from Bangladesh is not just a problem, it has assumed the dimension of an external aggression," he said.
Singh was in Guwahati to campaign for the party for next week's assembly elections. Assam goes to the polls to elect a 126-member legislature April 3 and April 10.
The BJP leader accused the central Government of trying to protect the interests of the illegal Bangladeshis by bringing in a legislation that encourages infiltration.
"The Congress led Government both in Assam and at the centre was all the time busy in appeasing the minorities for cheap political gains," the BJP president said.
The BJP is fighting the polls in Assam alone this time after being spurned by the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for an electoral alliance.
{{/usCountry}}The BJP is fighting the polls in Assam alone this time after being spurned by the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for an electoral alliance.
{{/usCountry}}The BJP and AGP had fought the 2001 assembly elections together and were routed by the Congress. The BJP had won just eight seats.
"People in Assam are looking for a change after losing confidence in both the Congress and AGP. The BJP is emerging as the possible third alternative in Assam and we are confident of winning the required number of seats to form a Government," Singh said.