Statement by
Shri L.K. Advani
(Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha)

At a press conference in Guwahati

29th September, 2008

I am returning to New Delhi after a highly satisfying two-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya. During this visit, I addressed two rallies, one in Guwahati and the other in Shillong, as part of the ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ planned by my Party.

A high point of my visit was my first formal meetings with leaders of the Asom Gana Parishad. The alliance planned between the BJP and AGP marks a highly significant development in the politics of Assam.

We in the NDA have always maintained that the BJP’s association with regional parties harmonises the national vision with legitimate regional aspirations. We see no contradiction between the two. Indeed, the two complement each other. That is why, for the people of Assam it is perfectly natural to feel proud when they listen to “Jana Gana Mana”, our national anthem, and also when they listen to “O Mor Aaponar Desh O Mor Chikunir Desh”, the anthem of Assam penned by the great writer Lakshminath Bezbarua. This song gives a highly emotive expression to the Assamese people’s love for their land, its heritage and its ethos.

Sadly, not only the heritage and ethos of Assam, but the very existence of Assam as a distinctive entity is now threatened by the unchecked flood of illegal migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. The Supreme Court, while striking down the hated IMDT Act as unconstitutional, has compared it to “external aggression” against Assam and India. In a scathing observation in a recent case — involving a Pakistani national who first came to Bangladesh, later infiltrated into Assam, got himself enrolled in the voters’ list, and even managed to contest the Assembly elections in 1996 — the Guwahati High Court has warned that Bangladeshi infiltrators have become “kingmakers” in Assam.

Both the BJP and the AGP believe that this situation is totally unacceptable. In keeping with the direction given by the Supreme Court, the future NDA Government at the Centre will take firm legal and administrative measures to neutralize this grave danger to the very survival of Assam.

Indeed, it is our solemn promise that we shall undo each of the following acts of betrayal of the people of Assam by the UPA Government:

To the above list, I would like to add the UPA Government’s failure to contain the unprecedented rise in the prices of all essential commodities and services, and also its failure – rather, unwillingness – to fight terrorism.

Assam must be saved and India must be freed of this burden called the UPA Government. This is possible only if there is a nationalist Government, with requisite political will, first in New Delhi and later in Guwahati, when the next State Assembly elections are held. Therefore, this is my appeal to the people of Assam: “Send maximum number of MPs of the BJP and AGP from Assam. Help us form an NDA Government at the Centre.”

* * *

During my visit to Shillong today, I had a very fruitful meeting with religious leaders of different faiths including Hindus, Muslims and Christians. I availed of the opportunity to comment on incidents which had occurred recently in parts of Orissa and Karnataka namely, the killing of innocent Christians and attacks on some churches. I strongly condemn these acts of violence and vandalism which cannot be condoned or justified. The law must take its course and the culprits must be brought to justice.

I also stressed at this meeting the need for frank and constructive inter-religious dialogue on all such issues that may be agitating the minds of this or that community. Let the people belonging to all religious communities consciously strengthen the bonds of Indianness that tie us together in the larger National Community.