New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) A day after the BJP drew flak over a "typographical error" of referring to people from the northeast as "immigrants" in its Vision Document, Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended his party and decried attempts to rake up the issue for political mileage.
"Attempts are being made to provoke people from the northeast... a mistake was made and the party accepted it," Modi said addressing an election rally in Ambedkar Nagar in south Delhi.
"No one should play with the unity of the country for political benefits," he said.
Modi said he has visited the northeastern states many times and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government would develop the region "more than what has happened in the past 60 years".
The prime minister's comments came as the BJP termed the issue an "inadvertent mistake" and regretted it.
"Due to an inadvertent mistake the word immigrant was used in the Vision Document. The party regrets this," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said Wednesday.
"The word 'immigrant' was used in the heading, but the paragraph ahead used the word migrant," he said at a press conference.
"Our brothers and sisters from the northeast are proud citizens of India wherever they are. The BJP walks an extra mile to ensure their safety and this mistake is regretted," said Prasad, who is also the communication and information technology minister.
BJP spokesperson M.J. Akbar also expressed regret over the error.
"We regret deeply and I want to reassure all our brothers and sisters of the northeast that everyone from there in Delhi is as valuable, as important to the BJP as any other citizen of Delhi," Akbar said.
On Tuesday, the BJP released its Vision Document for the Feb 7 assembly election where a section said: "North eastern immigrants to be protected."
The Congress demanded that the BJP apologise to the people of the northeast.
BJP leader and Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, addressing a press conference, clarified that it was a "typographical error", but said the BJP was the only party to mention creation of a separate northeast cell in its Vision Document.
She hit out at the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, saying that while the two parties were criticising the BJP for the error, the parties had no provision for northeast people in their manifestos.
The reference to people from the northeast in the Vision Document found mention as there have been many attacks on people from the region in Delhi.
An edited version of the Vision Document was published on the BJP website Wednesday with the word "immigrants" removed as well as the reference to "migrants" in the subsequent elaboration.
The heading was changed to "People from the North East in Delhi to be protected".
"Special cells in all police stations and special 24-hour helpline numbers to be set up for the protection of the north eastern people living in Delhi," the edited version said.
"To safeguard the students of N.E. (northeast) origin, special guardianships will be arranged with local families for them," it added.
Covid-19: Corona breaks all records till date, 7466 new cases in 24 hours, 175 deaths
new Delhi.
Active case 4597 decreased in 24 hours, this is the lowest in 33 days; Today, total cases can cross 85 lakhs
The country is once again witnessing an increase in corona cases. On Friday, a decrease of 4 thousand 597 was registered in an active case, but it is the lowest in 33 days. The shortfall was 2
Weather Update: It will rain today in these states including Delhi-Bihar, Meteorological Department alert issued, know the weather of your city
Pre-monsoon rains are continuing in many states. Monsoon is likely to move towards North India in the coming days. There is a possibility of rain in the capital Delhi and adjoining areas even today.
'Hindus converted to Islam on a large scale in Bengal', claims NCBC chairman – Many Bangladeshis included in OBC list
West Bengal Hindu conversion Hansraj Ahir, chairman of the National Commission for Other Backward Classes (OBC), said Hindus in West Bengal have converted to Islam on a large scale. The president of
Ramayan: Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayan' stuck in legal troubles! Will Ranbir Kapoor's film be locked even before its announcement?
Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming film 'Ramayana' is continuously in the headlines. The audience is desperate to know every update related to the
NJAC Act is still-born: Nariman tells SC
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The Supreme Court was told on Thursday that the National Judicial Appointment Commission Act, 2014 was a still-born law.Pointing out that the Constitution (Ninety-ninth
Shami, Ashwin move up, Kohli, Dhoni drop in ICC rankings
Sydney, March 2 (IANS) Indian pacer Mohammad Shami and off-spinner Ravichandaran Ashwin moved up while Virat Kohli dropped a place to fourth with 847 points in the latest International Cricket
MP Exit Poll 2023: In the figures, the public was kind to 'Mama', somewhere Congress is giving equal competition, But the picture is still pending...
MP Exit Polls 2023: Elections for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh have been completed on 17th November, the results of which will be released on 3rd December. Meanwhile, exit poll figures came out last
Dragon's nature: Seeing the situation, the tone changed, now said - Afghanistan should not become a 'hate' of terrorists
Hours after the Taliban promised to form an inclusive Islamic government and establish peace in Afghanistan, China has issued a warning. China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the Security
Way for India to become a developed nation, people should be aware of rights as well as duties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at Red Fort on 76th Independence Day sent a message not only to the country that the government was dedicated to the goal of bringing India into the category of
