Guwahati, April 4: At a time when senior Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai has accused the BJP of trying to forge a “Gujarat pattern” everywhere in the country, the Assam unit of the BJP is planning to bring Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi here.

Kidwai, who is the AICC general secretary in charge of Assam, today joined chief minister Tarun Gogoi in terming the state BJP’s jana jagaran yatra an attempt to “break” the people of Assam.

The BJP, however, is making preparations to make the April 8 rally against illegal Bangladeshi migrants a success. It accused the Congress of trying to play a communal game with the yatra.

“Our president Venkaiah Naidu has confirmed his participation. We are trying to bring Modi and Union minister of state for home I.D. Swami for the Guwahati rally,” said Narayan Borkataky, chairman of the yatra’s co-ordination committee.

He said the national executive of the BJP is currently having its session at Indore and Modi’s participation will be finalised there. “The confirmation regarding Modi’s participation will be known by tomorrow,” said Borkataky.

The Congress, however, continued its tirade against the yatra, saying the people of Assam would not accept this mockery. “The IMDT Act is not the state’s concern. Only Parliament can repeal it. If the BJP is serious about it, they should move Parliament,” argued Assam PCC president Pawan Singh Ghatowar.

The state BJP’s yatra against illegal migrants from Bangladesh will enter the state capital on April 7 from three directions and go round the city. The next day, a huge rally is being planned at Judges Field.

The yatra is focussing on three issues — illegal migrants from Bangladesh, activities of Pakistan’s ISI in Assam and repeal of the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act.

Borkataky also reacted to Gogoi’s remarks, saying, “The yatra is not what the chief minister had alleged.”

He said the BJP was happy with the way people were responding to the yatra. He said the BJP has now taken up the matter of Assam’s illegal migrants as a national issue.

Grant for Nagaland

The Centre has released Rs 365 crore to the Nagaland government to ease its fiscal burden, reports Nishit Dholabhai from Kohima. The sum matches the state’s deficit in the past financial year, sources said.

The sources added the state would be able to release all the civil deposits and backlog of Centrally sponsored schemes as well as ensure normal release of funds for development. Though the grant will ease the current crisis, it is not being seen as a permanent solution.

“We are hoping for the best from the Centre as we cannot be punished for the mistakes of the Congress government,” said minister for planning Shurhozelie. The government would continue to plead with the Centre to take a sympathetic decision to extend a one-time grant to wipe out the accumulated budget deficit.