Stripping illegal immigrants in Assam of voting rights is top priority for BJP

New Delhi, May 19: For Sarbananda Sonowal the victory has been sweet. Sonowal who is being credited for the BJP's historic showing in Assam has a tough task ahead.

Sonowal had earlier during the day said that the sorting out the problem of illegal immigration is one of the major challenges ahead for the BJP.

For the Hindus in Assam the issue of illegal immigration is an emotive one. The state has a 34 percent population of Muslims. Out of this 10 per cent comprises Muslims who have migrated from Bangladesh and also have been given Indian citizenship.

Curbing illegal immigration:

There are many who have illegally immigrated from Bangladesh. Many have been given Indian citizenship and this has not gone down well at all with the Hindus in the state. The BJP had been promising all along that this issue is a top priority for them.

Apart from sealing the border with Bangladesh, it also proposes to send back some of the younger illegal immigrants. The BJP also proposes to bar those immigrants from Bangladesh who have been given voting rights.

The BJP says that the intention is not to be anti Muslim. Their only aim is to solve a genuine problem called illegal immigration.

Sonowal during his campaign has made it clear that the BJP stands for both the Hindus and the Indian Muslims.

The BJP says that to accuse the party of being anti Muslim is wrong. The issue relates to illegal immigration and protecting the rights of both the Hindus and the Indian Muslims.

Moreover the BJP will also have to ensure that the welfare rights of the locals is safeguarded. There have been complaints that the illegal immigrants enjoy more benefits and rights when compared to the locals.

OneIndia News