Guwahati, 04 August (HS): The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing counterattack on the Congress on Monday, calling the latter’s recent remark on foreigners in Assam the “biggest political joke of the year.” The sharp rebuttal came in response to Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi’s statement asserting that “not a single foreigner should stay in Assam.”

In a press note released from the BJP state headquarters in Basistha, the party dismissed Gogoi’s statement as a hollow performance, claiming it contradicts the Congress’s historical stance on illegal immigration. The BJP alleged that under successive Congress governments, illegal Bangladeshi migrants were not only protected but were allowed to alter Assam’s demographic balance—especially in districts where now, the indigenous population has become a minority.

“Congress doesn’t have the moral spine to support evictions that benefit Assam’s indigenous people,” the BJP asserted, adding that the ongoing eviction drives under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have rattled a party that once offered full patronage to illegal encroachers.

The BJP noted that large-scale encroachments—on government lands, tribal belts, wetlands, forests, and even revered Satras—took place while Congress was in power. “What did Congress do then? Nothing,” the statement said, accusing the party of remaining silent to protect its vote bank among Bengal-origin Muslims.

Citing past statements from UPA-era Home Ministers like Jai Prakash Jaiswal and Indrajit Gupta, the BJP reminded the public that lakhs of foreigners were once officially acknowledged in Assam. “Can Gaurav Gogoi deny those admissions made in Parliament?” the BJP asked.

The party also criticized the Congress for introducing the IMDT Act, which they claimed was designed solely to shield illegal immigrants. “Hiteswar Saikia once claimed there were no foreigners in Assam—now his political heirs are repeating that same deception,” the BJP alleged.

The BJP further challenged the Congress leadership to explain why they oppose the re-verification of 20% of names in the final NRC list, especially when there are widespread concerns over the inclusion of dubious entries based on forged documents.

“The Congress is merely shedding crocodile tears now,” the statement concluded. “No one is buying their sudden concern for the indigenous population. It is nothing more than a performance aimed at salvaging lost credibility.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash