Guwahati: Accusing the Congress of patronising illegal immigrants, opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Monday called upon the Centre to clarify its stand regarding remarks by a delegation of Bangladesh MPs that India had never taken up the issue of immigration with their government.
"The Centre should make clear its position regarding the claim made by the MPs from Bangladesh," AGP general secretary Durga Das Boro told reporters here.
He added, "If the Centre fails to clarify the matter, we would deem that it is violating the constitution and sacrificing the interests of genuine Indian citizens."
Protests are being held across the state after a 12-member team of visiting Bangladesh MPs on Saturday claimed here that the Indian government had not taken up the issue of infiltration from Bangladesh with that country's government at the diplomatic level.
He said if illegal immigration continues, India's sovereignty would come under threat.
Asked about AGP's alleged failure to highlight the issue when it was in power, Boro said the United Front regimes of HD Deve Gowda and IK Gujral included the foreigners' issue in the Common Minimum Programme under pressure from the party.
"However, the UF government collapsed within a short period of time," Boro said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 03, 2012, 16:36