Assam government will work to tackle illegal immigration: Sonowal

New Delhi, May 22: The new BJP-led government in Assam will give top priority to finding a permanent solution to the problem of infiltration of illegal migrants from Bangladesh into the north-eastern state, BJP leader Sarbanand Sonowal has said.

"The sealing of borders with Bangladesh will get top priority," Sonowal, who was elected BJP legislature party leader on Sunday, said in an interview to ETV.

He said the issue of "identity crisis" in Assam vis-a-vis bona fide citizens of India and infiltrators from Bangladesh was a matter of concern.

However, infiltration had come down "after an agreement with Bangladesh", said a communique from ETV citing Sonowal.

The focus of the new government will also be on maintaining law and order in the state and creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

The former union minister said his government will strive to "transform Assam" and insisted that the opposition Congress too will be involved in the developmental process.

"There is need for transformation in Assam and we will need the support from everyone in this endeavour," he said.

Sonowal, who has resigned as union youth affairs and sports minister, said the new state government will work "as per the wishes of Assam people".

"We want to win the hearts of Assam people," Sonowal said.

Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonowal said: "We won due to his focussed approach towards the north-east. Modi's commitment and good governance model have strengthened the Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam and rooted out the Congress's bad governance."

IANS