Kokrajhar, Nov. 2: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) slammed both the BJP and Congress of protecting and harbour illegal foreigners for their political gain.

The students' union today carried out a gana satyagraha rally in Kokrajhar against the Centre's notification allowing non-Muslims who migrated from Bangladesh to stay in India without valid documents. Hundreds of people, including students, participated in the rally.

Addressing the gathering before the procession at Rassmela field in Kokrajhar town, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya said "both the Congress and BJP are same and favour foreigners over the indigenous people. The BJP wants Bangladeshi vote, Congress wants Bangladeshi vote, nobody wants the indigenous people," he said.

Bhattacharjya made it clear that Assam would not bear any extra burden of migrants and fight tooth and nail to stop any such attempt. "A foreigner is a foreigner. There is no question of religion and they must go back. That's the decision of the people of Assam. There is no doubt about it," he said, adding that Assam is a small state and could not take the burden of giving refuge to the illegal migrants entering the state after the midnight of March 24, 1971, the cut-off date according to the Assam Accord.

Slamming the BJP government at the Centre, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured the people of Assam that the Bangladeshis would be driven out if the BJP comes to power. But after coming to power, he said, it has forgotten its promises and betrayed the indigenous people by adopting anti-Assam and anti-indigenous people policies.

Echoing Bhattacharjya, AASU president Dipanka Nath said Assam couldn't be a dumping ground for foreigners. He slammed the BJP for trying to divide the people on communal lines. "We don't want illegal foreigners to be categorised according to religion," Nath said, adding that AASU would vehemently oppose the move of the Centre to harbour the illegal migrants.

All Bodo Students Union vice-president Romeo P. Narzary said the demography of Assam has already changed drastically because of massive illegal immigration. The tribal belts and blocks have been grabbed illegally by non-tribals, but the government has not taken any initiative to protect the rights of the indigenous people, he said. The BJP government's stand on foreigners has once again proved that in India, more so in Assam, the indigenous people are never taken care of, He alleged, adding: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses hearty thoughts in his Mann ki baat programme but never tries listening to what people want to say or want".

The Absu leader said Assam has sacrificed enough for illegal foreigners and would not tolerate the injustice any more.

The rally was attended, among others, by leaders from Absu, All Adivasi Students Association of Assam and Sadou Asom Goria Moria Deshi Jatiya Parishad.