Agencies/Guwahati

Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed yesterday to halt illegal immigration from Bangladesh into Assam, saying they were “destroying” the northeastern state.

Modi, whose right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party stormed to power at May elections, said: “Bangladeshis are entering Assam every day and destroying the state.” 

“I will make an arrangement by way of which all the routes used by them to enter Assam are closed,” he promised in the state’s main city of Guwahati.

Modi was addressing members of his party, which is trying to make political inroads in Assam.

During his election campaign earlier this year, Modi said illegal immigrants from Bangladesh should pack their bags and leave, warning of tough action if he were elected prime minister.

Tensions have been high in recent years in Assam. More than 40 Muslims including women and children were slaughtered in May this year by tribal separatists called Bodos.

Th tribals and some politicians blame unrest between Muslims and Bodos in Assam on an influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Muslims claim they have been targeted by well-armed Bodo militias in land and other disputes.

Yesterday Modi promised that his government would permanently resolve the illegal immigration issue by securing a long-pending land swap agreement with Bangladesh.

“When we execute the land swap deal it might look like a loss for Assam, but in the long run Assam will gain by the deal,” he said.

“We are not going to compromise the interests of Assam.”

India and Bangladesh have for years been trying to resolve their land border disputes, including settling the future of 162 enclaves - small pockets of one country’s territory surrounded by that of the other.

More than 50,000 people live in the enclaves, cut off from their respective governments and without access to many basic services.

The enclaves date back to ownership arrangements made centuries ago between local princes. They survived the partition of the subcontinent in 1947 after British rule and Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.

The two countries signed an agreement in 2011 to demarcate their 4,000km border.

“On the issue of land transfer, I know and understand the sentiments of the people of Assam,” Modi added. “Whatever we do, there might be a perception of a short-term loss, but ultimately Assam will gain in the long run.” 

“There will be no compromise on the security of the people of Assam and I will ensure that the people of Assam get their rights,” he said.

He said the BJP has always been involved in “politics of development”, and it was his party that forced other parties to discuss developmental issues.

“People must realise that the government in New Delhi has changed and we are here to serve the nation. We have already initiated efforts to develop the northeast region, and all the states in the region will get a new engine of development soon,” Modi said.

At a separate meeting, Modi said the image of the police has to change and called for SMART policing that would encompass sensitivity, reliability and modernity.

“I have a concept of SMART Police in my mind,” Modi said at the 49th conference of directors and inspectors general of police from all states and union territories.

“S stands for strict and sensitivity, M for modern and mobility, A for alert and accountable, R for reliable and responsive, and T for tech-savvy and trained,” he said, explaining his vision.

Modi asserted the sacrifices and contributions of the police force should not be ignored.

“Since independence, 33,000 police personnel have sacrificed their lives for the nation... (This) is not a small number.

“Their sacrifices shouldn’t go in vain. We cannot let their sacrifices go in vain. Their sacrifice cannot die.”

Modi called for a task force to suggest ways to institutionalise the memory of the dead police personnel and said police academies of every state must have a book dedicated to the memory of these men and women.