UPA better than NDA to solve illegal immigration: Cong

Congress on Saturday sought to puncture the BJP's claim on tough stand against illegal Bangladesh migrants in the wake of the controversy surrounding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam asserting that the UPA government had a better track record in dealing with such issues.

The Congress released documents to back its claim of strong action against illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

It said between 2005 and 2013, the UPA government had deported 82,728 illegal Bangladeshi migrants against the 1,822 deported during the four years of Modi government.

The Congress Working Committee deliberated the issue of the final draft of the NRC at length after former chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi made a detail presentation to the members and decided to assist “every Indian citizen” left out of the NRC to establish their credentials and prove their citizenship.

Assam Congress president Ripun Bora, Assam CLP leader Debabrata Saikia and other Congress MPs from Assam were invited to brief the CWC on the NRC process.

“Congress party reiterates and reaffirms its commitment to Assam Accord as a principal framework and supports the NRC process,” Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC communications department, said while briefing reporters on the CWC meeting.

Surjewala accused the BJP of using the NRC issue as a divisive and emotional tool for misleading the people.

“This is being done to deflect Nation’s attention from the colossal failures, mega scams like Rafale, bank frauds and others as also a betrayal of people by Modi government on various promises,” Surjewala said.

Congress also staked claim to the NRC process asserting that it was initiated during the UPA government as part of its commitment to fulfilling the Assam Accord signed by the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.

“The NRC process is the baby of the Assam Accord,” Surjewala said adding that the UPA government had allocated Rs 490 crore in 2009 and appointed 25,000 enumerators for completing the process.