Infiltration plug Delhi priority

India’s new government will deal the “infiltration and illegal immigrants” issue in the country’s northeast region as a matter of “priority”.

The Narendra Modi government will also complete all pending fencing work along the northeast border.

President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said this as he outlined the new government's priorities in areas ranging from domestic issues to foreign policy in his 55-minute address to a joint session of parliament.

The northeast region shares a long border with Bangladesh.

The issue of “infiltration and illegal immigrants” came to the fore during BJP leader Modi’s elections campaigns.

File Photo

In his speeches, particularly in the West Bengal, he had asked ‘illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India should pack up and leave’ on May 16, when the results of the world’s largest democratic exercise was to be announced.

He later said he would make every effort to improve relations with Bangladesh should he come to power.

Being elected prime minister, he invited all heads of the South Asian states, the first time in Indian history, at his swearing-in ceremony.

Doing this, the president said his government sent “a unique and bold signal” to the South Asian region and the world.

“This shows my government’s commitment and determination to work towards building a peaceful, stable and economically inter-linked neighbourhood which is essential for the collective development and prosperity of the South Asian Region”.

“We are grateful to them for accepting the invitation at such a short notice”.

He said their participation “not only added sheen to the ceremony, but also represented a celebration of democracy in the region and convergence of our shared hopes and aspirations”.

“We will further work together with South Asian leaders to revitalise SAARC as an effective instrument for regional cooperation and as a united voice on global issues”.

The president said in order to actively engage with the States on national issues, his government will reinvigorate fora like the National Development Council and the Inter-State Council.

“Highest priority will be accorded to bring eastern region of the country on par with western region in terms of physical and social infrastructure.

“The government will lay special emphasis on improving the intra-region connectivity and border infrastructure in the Northeast as well as in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

The President said his government would pursue its international engagement based on “enlightened national interest, combining the strength of our values with pragmatism, leading to a doctrine of mutually beneficial relationships”.

“My government is committed to building a strong, self-reliant and self-confident India; regaining its rightful place in the comity of nations”.

At the same time, he said India would “never shy away from raising issues of concern to us at a bilateral level”.

“We emphasise that the future of shared prosperity can only be built on the foundation of stability in the region, which requires sensitivity to security concerns and an end to export of terrorism to neighbours”.

He also outlined India’s global engagement particularly with China, Japan, Russia, the US and the European Union and said the government would “revive Brand India riding on our strengths of 5T’s: Tradition, Talent, Tourism, Trade and Technology” to fully realize India’s “softpower potential”.