BJP accuses opposition leaders of threats over infiltrators issue in West Bengal, Jharkhand

The BJP on Sunday accused opposition leaders of running a campaign to protect infiltrators living in India as it cited comments of some of them to claim they were threatening it for raising the issue in states like West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Speaking to reporters, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed Jharkhand minister and Congress leader Irfan Ansari has said he will "dig the grave of the BJP" while attacking the party over the infiltrator issue.

Ansari had later said that he was responding to the BJP's alleged projection of him and many other locals as Bangladeshi infiltrators.

The BJP is against infiltrators as it is a matter of national security, Patra said, adding that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent campaign against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar was essentially an exercise in "protecting infiltrators".

TMC leader Abdur Rahim Boxi, he alleged, threatened to throw acid on the face of anyone raising the issue of infiltrators. He said the Calcutta High Court should take cognisance of the comments of the Malda district president of the state's ruling party and initiate action.

The BJP leader said these comments are a reflection of the growing frustration in the opposition ranks over the Election Commission's electoral roll review drive.