Rajiv Gandhi Tried Something Similar With Assam Accord; With NRC we Pulled Off What UPA Didn’t Have Courage For, Says Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha

Speaking in Rajya Sabha during the debate on NRC issue, Shah said,"Rajiv Gandhi signed Assam accord in 1985, which was similar to NRC. They did not have courage to implement it, we did."

New Delhi, July 31: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the Opposition parties of protecting Bangladeshi infiltrators. Speaking in Rajya Sabha during the debate on National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue, Shah said,”Rajiv Gandhi signed Assam accord in 1985, which was similar to NRC. They did not have courage to implement it, we (NDA) did.”

Following his statement, Congress MPs protested in the well after which the Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House till Wednesday.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am tomorrow pic.twitter.com/LJ9aPjw3J0

— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2018

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh while responding over the issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Rohingya refugees had said,”The Centre has issued new advisory to state governments concerning Rohingyas and made is clear t

“The Border Security Force and Assam Rifles are deployed to stop further infiltration of Rohingyas. We have issued an advisory to states to monitor those who have already come and to keep them in one place and not let them spread. States also have right to deport them,” the Home Minister had said.

However, Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Sugata Bose hit out at government and said that the Ministry of External Affairs is carrying out “Operation Insaniyat” (Operation Humanity) in Bangladesh while on the other hand it started the process of deportation of Rohingyas from the country.

“External Affairs Ministry is conducting operation insaniyat (humanity) for Rohingyas in Bangladesh. There are about 40,000 Rohingyas in India. Will we show insaniyat for only those who are in Bangladesh?” Bose asked.

Responding to Bose’s remarks, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said,”This is an unfortunate statement by him. India is probably the only country which has adopted such a soft approach to refugees.”

He said that despite being not in the UN treaty to receive refugees, India has given shelter to millions. “Still, thousands of refugees are staying in India. India has been very soft towards immigrants but that doesn’t mean that there will be no system to regularise it. Our priority is taking care of our citizens first,” Rijiju said.