Bengal BJP takes aim at 'protection of illegal immigrants'

Kolkata: Bengal BJP on Wednesday intensified its campaign against what it perceives as the legitimisation of illegal immigrants by Trinamool Congress . BJP alleged that Trinamool's protests were an attempt to politicise Bengali identity and protect illegal immigrants.

Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya accused TMC of fostering anti-Bengali sentiment, which he claimed was causing trouble for migrant workers in other states. He alleged that fake Aadhaar cards were being issued to illegal immigrants, particularly affecting Muslim workers in North 24 Parganas and Murshidabad. Bhattacharya emphasised that while no Indian citizen, Hindu or Muslim, would be expelled from the country, those involved in vandalism in Bangladesh would find no refuge in India.

State leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari echoed these sentiments, accusing CM Mamata Banerjee of attempting to shelter Rohingya who crossed the border illegally. He claimed these illegal immigrants possessed fake Aadhaar and Voter ID cards and called for their removal, asserting that the integrity of the electoral rolls must be maintained. He and other BJP MLAs on Wednesday marched to the office of the chief electoral officer to demand that Bengal's voter rolls be cleared of Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar supported the scrutiny of Aadhaar and voter cards, saying that it was necessary to protect national integrity. He pointed out that similar measures were being taken in Punjab, a non-BJP state, suggesting that Trinamool's allegations of conspiracy were unfounded.

Bhattacharya further warned of a "silent demographic invasion" due to Bengal's porous 2,200km border with Bangladesh, and claimed there was a longstanding design to transform Bengal into an Islamic state. He said BJP had submitted a list of 13 lakh fake voters to Election Commission and urged that action be taken.