BJP expresses concern over situation in North-East

BJP expresses concern over situation in North-East
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JAN 6: The BJP has expressed concern over the alarming situation prevailing in some parts of the North-East and asked the Centre to take all possible measures to defeat the activities of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the region.

A resolution on the situation in the North-East, adopted by the party's National Executive, which concluded its two-day meeting yesterday, cautioned against the illegal immigration from Bangladesh as the ``continuous flow of illegal immigrants has dramatically altered the demographic balance of vast stretches of the North-East and has had serious political, social and economic impact''.

The resolution, released to reporters today by party vice-president Jana Krishnamurthy, asked the Government to ensure that all citizens, especially in the border areas, be given Multi-purpose Identity Cards and the Illegal Migrants Detention Act be scrapped.

The party vowed to mobilise its cadre to fight extremist and separatist violence and extend all help to the Government in any initiative it takes in this regard.

The resolution said the Government should take steps to thwart the current conspiracy of the ISI and the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) to divide the society and drive out non-locals from the area.

``The National Executive believes that the perpetrators of violence in the North-East are greatly emboldened by the nexus that exists between some local politicians and extremists, separatists and infiltrators - each feeding on the other's networks,'' the resolution said.

It said, ``Thousands of crores of rupees meant for development activities routinely disappear. While some of them end up in the pockets of corrupt local politicians, a bulk of them land in the hands of extremist outfits to finance their criminal activities.''

It said money sent from abroad for humanitarian purposes had also often been diverted for purchasing arms and for anti-National activities.

The resolution said the deterioration in the situation had enabled forces inimical to ``our country to dangerously extend their activities to the region. The ISI has established strong linkages with extremist and separatist outfits and is using them to further its proxy-war against India''.

``The ISI is further helped by relentless and unchecked illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Large areas of the North-East have been inundated by illegal immigrants. The demographic balance in Assam has already been drastically altered. The same dangerous alteration is beginning in adjacent States,'' it said.

Squarely blaming the Congress for the massive and illegal immigration, the resolution said, ``It has been encouraged by vote-bank politics of the Congress. It should be a matter of concern to all Indians that the electoral outcome in vast tracts of this region now depends on what the infiltrators decide.''

It said the allegation that the Centre had been neglecting the region was a baseless one ``intended solely to divert attention from the root-causes''.

Complimenting the NDA Government for its increasing attention to the North-East, it said in the current year the Centre had set aside about Rs 14,000 crore for the North-East.

Asking the Government to take steps to check the activities of SULFA (Surrendered ULFA) cadres who were terrorising voters and extorting money from innocent citizens, the resolution also sought rehabilitation of Riyang refugees who have been driven out of Mizoram.

However, the resolution blamed the State Governments as being primarily responsible for affairs reaching this pass and the State Government of Manipur ``has been particularly lethargic in fighting terrorist and separatist forces. The State Government of Assam has not been as aggressive as it should have been in putting down terrorist and separatist forces''.

Focussing on ULFA, it said it had been ``extremely vicious in its murderous and criminal activities, indulging in extortion and killings. The Bodo outfits have not lagged behind. Fear and uncertainty prevail in Assam, and a sense of insecurity has gripped the people''.