Congress attacks BJP for calling Northeast People 'Immigrants'

New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) The Congress Tuesday attacked the BJP's Vision Document for referring to northeast people as "immigrants" and asked if the centre's ruling party considers people from the region like those from other countries.

Congress leader and the party's campaign chief Ajay Maken, while releasing the party manifesto here, said: "Does the BJP consider the northeast people like those from other countries? Does the BJP want to say that the northeast is not part of the country?"

Maken said that at a time when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was visiting China, which lays claim to Arunachal Pradesh, was it proper for the BJP to come out with a vision document terming the northeast people "immigrants".

He said the Congress demands that the BJP rectify the error and apologise to the country.

"We will not tolerate that the BJP does this (refer to the northeast people as immigrants)," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Vision Document for the Delhi elections has a statement that says "North eastern immigrants to be protected".

Maken also said that the Congress while in power had brought out a law on rights of street vendors, but it was yet to be implemented.

He said the law on street vendors was passed by the United Progressive Alliance government that would help over 1,60,000 street vendors who had applied for registration.

Maken said though the previous government had passed the law, the rules had not yet been notified till now.

The Congress demands that the BJP notify the law fast, he said.

P.C. Chacko, in-charge of party affairs in Delhi, said the Congress was keen to make the 'right to shelter' a concrete action plan.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said the party would also work to employ more Urdu and Punjabi teachers in schools.