RSS opposes Bangladesh Grameen Bank in Assam

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has opposed the Congress government's move to open Bangladesh Grameen Bank (BGB) in Assam, alleging ''these banks are found to become legitimate channels of illegitimate financial transactions, most likely for subversive and terrorist activities''.

Referring to a reported meeting of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi with bank founder and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus in February, the RSS mouthpiece, Organiser, asked if the Chief Minister was interested in providing rural credit to the poor people, what prevented him from asking the Indian banks to open their branches.

''It is clear that Tarun Gogoi has other ideas in mind,'' it alleged.

Claiming that three BGB branches would be opened in northern Assam in areas like Sonitpur, which were badly affected by infiltrator-instigated terrorist violence, the latest issue of the Saffron journal alleged it to be another ''sinister move to destroy the national economy and safety (of the country) at the altar of nefarious vote bank poltitics''.

Referring to the reports of the Parlaimentary Standing Committee of the Home Ministry as well the Ministry's Annual Report for 2007-08, as also the statement of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on illegal migration from Bangladesh, the Organiser's editorial said, ''A bank account is a proof of residence and an automatic passport for citizenship''.

Alleging that ''the Congress and CPI(M) have systematically built up a formidable vote bank in the North-East and West Bengal encouraging and facilitating illegal migration'', it said all attempts to identify and deport ''aliens'' from India, in spite of repeated raps by the Supreme Court on IMDT had been made futile by ''the cynical ruling class in the country''.

Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal (IMDT) Act, which was enacted for detecting and deporting illegal infiltrators in Assam from across the border, was scrapped by the Supreme Court on July 12, 2005.

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