KOLKATA: BJP’s Bengal unit is readying itself with facts to counter Mamata Banerjee’s “misinformation”, based on statements made by the home ministry in Parliament over illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to India with reference to
Assam and
West Bengal, both during
BJP and UPA regimes.
State BJP leaders argue that it is because of the over 2-crore Bangladeshis that youths are not getting jobs. The campaign is likely to reach its peak when BJP president Amit Shah comes to Kolkata in August.
“The West Bengal CM is trying to sweep this bitter home truth under the carpet because of her vote bank politics. These illegal Bangladeshi migrants have been helping to spread the terror network in the country. They had a hand in the Khagragarh blast and in the recent Basirhat riots. Bengal has been a happy haven for the Rohingyas. Let Trinamool Congress come clear on this issue,” said BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu.
The state BJP submitted a report to Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi last month, expressing concern over the rising infiltration from Bangladesh. The party has also sent a report to Union home minister Rajnath Singh pointing to the Rohingya camps in the state.
BJP leader Mohit Roy said refugee camps have come up in certain pockets after Rohingyas started taking shelter in Bengal. “There are pockets in Baruipur where they have come up with settlements. But there are areas where they are not living in an isolated way, but have tried to mix with the mainstream population,” Roy said. BJP leaders also pointed to areas in places like Durgapur-Asansol where some Rohingya families have taken shelter.
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, on the other hand, took the cue from the BJP president and argued that these illegal Bangladeshis have come in the way of Bengal youths looking for jobs. “We therefore want a NRC in Bengal like in Assam. I believe that it is a popular demand among youths in Bengal. The Centre can’t do it on its own. We will raise the demand and ask for an NRC when we come to power in Bengal,” Vijayvargiya said.
BJP Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh had said on Monday Muslims from Bangladesh staying illegally in India should be sent back immediately.
BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said illegal Bangladeshis had come in the way of Bengal youths looking for jobs
