'Population increased from 0 to 64 lakh': Amit Shah attacks Cong over infiltrators in poll-bound Assam

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress of “changing” the poll-bound state’s demography, a “trend” he said the current BJP-led government at the Centre is working to “reverse.”Shah made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the 10th Mising Youth Festival at Kareng Chapori in Assam's Dhemaji. He also urged the people to vote for the state BJP government in the upcoming assembly elections to "completely free" Assam from infiltration. “Assam’s demography completely changed during Congress rule. The population of infiltrators rose to 64 lakh from nil, and infiltrators became the majority in seven districts,” the senior BJP leader alleged.“If you want to stop infiltration, then elect the BJP government for a third term and strengthen the hands of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Two BJP state governments in Assam have freed 1.26 lakh acres of land from encroachment by infiltrators,” he added.The BJP first came to power in Assam in May 2016 and won re-election five years later. It is now aiming for a third consecutive term when the state goes to polls in April.Meanwhile, Shah also highlighted the role played by the Mising community in preventing infiltrators from settling in Upper Assam through their hardworking lifestyle.“It is the responsibility of the Mising community to stop infiltration. You do not need to take up guns. Through your culture of hard work, infiltrators have not been able to settle here,” he remarked.The home minister further alleged that several tribal communities in Assam struggled to protect their identity during the Congress regime, while asserting that the BJP was committed to addressing the issues of the Mising society through an interlocutor appointed by the Centre.(With PTI inputs)