GUWAHATI, March 8 � Corruption is one of the main reasons for underdevelopment of the North Eastern region of the country, while infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals poses a serious threat to the security of the nation, said the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nitin Gadkari.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the BJP president said that corruption would be one of the main issues for the BJP in the ensuing elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly. He pointed out that over the years, Assam has been neglected as vital issues concerning the people have been overlooked and a major portion of the funds provided by the Government of India is not reaching the people because of corruption. He pointed out that the BJP has already unearthed financial scams worth Rs 60,000 crore in the North Eastern region and even at the national level, corruption is a major issue for the party.
Gadkari said that the BJP has already constituted a committee of experts to study the problems facing the North East and to prepare a vision document entitled NE Vision 2025 for recommending ways for sustainable development of the region. He expressed the view that there is urgent need for launching sustainable development schemes free from corruption in the North East.
On the problem of infiltration of foreigners, the BJP president alleged that over the years, the Congress gave a red carpet welcome to the Bangladeshi nationals to create its own vote bank, thus overlooking the interests of the nation. He said that because of the wrong policies of the Congress, foreign nationals even managed to buy properties in India, while, infiltration has seriously deprived the indigenous people of Assam, irrespective of their religion and caste, of their due share of development. It is unfortunate that even after 60 years of independence, the international border with Bangladesh could not be sealed, which not only encouraged infiltration but also instigated cross border terrorism, which has become a major threat to the security of the nation, he added.
On the prospects of the BJP in the ensuing State Assembly polls, Gadkari said that the BJP would fight the elections alone. He asserted that a non-Congress Government would be formed in the State after the polls and the BJP is likely to be a part of it. However, he refused to disclose whether the BJP is ready for a post-poll alliance with the AGP and said, � such issues will be discussed when such a need arises. At this moment I can only say that the strength of the BJP is increasing with every passing day and we hope to do well in the elections.�
Replying to a question on the recent resentment among a section of BJP workers over the issue of selection of party candidates, Gadkari said that such issues would not affect the party in any way. �Ours is a democratic party and such minor issues in a party like BJP are not unusual. The BJP is not like a proprietary mother and son party like the Congress,� he said. However, he warned that the BJP would not tolerate any indiscipline by party workers.
Replying to another question as to how the BJP, if voted to power, would solve the problem of insurgency, Gadkari said that wrong policies followed by the Congress resulted in deterioration of the situation. He expressed the view that the policy of appeasement by the Congress would not help in solving the problems. He said that all-round development including better education facilities, creating employment potential, solution to the problem of floods, better health care, adequate facilities to the farmers etc., can play a vital role in dealing with the problem of insurgency.
