Amit Shah Accuses Congress of Exploiting Bangladeshi Migrants

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a public rally in Borduwa, Assam, on December 29, 2023, where he accused the Congress party of exploiting Bangladeshi infiltrators as a vote bank. Shah emphasized that these individuals threaten the cultural identity, land, and security of the people of Assam. He stated that the government would identify all illegal immigrants, not only in Assam but across India, and take action to repatriate them.

The Minister criticized the Congress for its historical handling of immigration issues, specifically referencing the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) (IMDT) Act of 1983, which he claimed provided legal protection to infiltrators. This Act was later annulled by the Supreme Court. “I assure the people of Assam from the holy place of Batadrava that the BJP government will identify all Bangladeshi infiltrators and send them back,” Shah declared.

Shah expressed concerns that the cultural identity of Assam’s residents has been “gradually weakened under the influence of the infiltrators.” He contrasted the BJP’s initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Congress’s legacy, asserting that while Congress was in power, they failed to honor the martyrs of the Assam movement against illegal immigration. He highlighted that a grand memorial dedicated to these martyrs was recently completed due to the efforts of the BJP government.

During the rally, Shah paid tribute to the martyrs of the Assam Agitation at the ‘Swahid Smarak Kshetra’ in Guwahati. He described the past decade of BJP governance in the state as a “golden era,” noting that Modi has visited the North East 80 times and Assam 36 times since taking office in 2014.

In his remarks, Shah also targeted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, claiming that despite representing Assam in the Rajya Sabha for 12 years, Singh only visited the state seven times, primarily for political purposes. “For him, Assam’s development, culture, and peace were just a matter of speech,” Shah alleged, pointing out the stark contrast in financial allocations for development between the Congress and the BJP. He claimed that under Congress, Assam received only Rs 1.28 lakh crore over ten years, while the Modi administration has allocated Rs 15 lakh crore since 2014.

Shah inaugurated the redeveloped Batadrava Than, the birthplace of the influential Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva, which had previously been encroached upon. The redevelopment, costing Rs 227 crore, aims to transform the site into a world-class tourist destination. Shah stated that the site has now been “freed from encroachment.”

The Home Minister claimed that the Assam government has also reclaimed over 100,000 bighas of land from Bangladeshi infiltrators, including areas within Kaziranga National Park. He urged the public to support the BJP for another five years to ensure an “infiltrator-free Assam.”

Shah invoked the legacy of Sankardeva, stating that the Prime Minister is committed to the principle of ‘Ek Bharat’ against divisive forces. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to inaugurate the redevelopment project, emphasizing its significance to Assamese culture and unity.

He concluded by highlighting the peace accords signed during the BJP’s tenure, asserting that 92 percent of their terms have been fulfilled. Shah painted a picture of Assam’s transformation from a region plagued by agitation and violence to one recognized for its development and potential. “Assam is no longer considered a problematic state,” he stated, adding that industrialists now view it as a growth engine for the North East.