The political sparring between the BJP and the Congress over illegal immigration sharpened on Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge trading strong words on the issue, particularly in the context of Assam.

Speaking at a public gathering in Namrup, where he inaugurated multiple development initiatives including a fertiliser plant worth ₹10,601 crore in Dibrugarh district, Prime Minister Modi alleged that the Congress was acting against national interests. He claimed the party wanted undocumented Bangladeshi migrants to settle on Assam’s land and forest areas to bolster its electoral base, disregarding the concerns of local residents.

The Prime Minister also criticised the Congress for opposing electoral roll revisions, asserting that such resistance was driven by a hunger for power rather than concern for democratic integrity. Emphasising his government’s stance, Modi said the BJP would continue to safeguard Assam’s land, cultural identity and dignity.

Modi further argued that decades of Congress rule had caused deep-rooted damage to the country, and despite over a decade of corrective measures under his leadership, significant work was still needed to undo past mistakes.

Illegal immigration remains a sensitive and politically charged issue in Assam. Authorities have reportedly deported more than 400 undocumented migrants, including Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas, over the past year after detaining them for unlawful entry.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s remarks, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed the allegations as an attempt to deflect responsibility. He pointed out that the BJP governs both at the Centre and in Assam, questioning how the Opposition could be blamed for failures in border control and internal security.

Kharge accused the Prime Minister of routinely holding the Opposition responsible whenever governance lapses occur. He asserted that the Congress neither supports infiltrators nor extremists and remains committed to national interest, adding that accusations against the party were a cover for the ruling government’s inability to effectively manage the situation.