Mahanta's statements gimmick : NEPC

"Mahanta's recent utterances against illegal immigrants is nothing but a ploy to exploit the sentiment of the people. During his two terms as Chief Minister, the AGP leader did nothing to solve the problem of Bangladeshi immigrants," NEPC convener Chandan Chakraborty told reporters here.

Mahanta has demanded that the illegal migration problem in Assam needed to be solved on a priority basis.

The people of the state have not forgotten the secret killings of 1998-2001 when scores of relatives of ULFA leaders were murdered by unidentified miscreants during Mahanta's second term as Chief Minister, he said.

"Besides, AGP rule was also known for disturbances, teachers' agitation over non-payment of salaries and total collapse of the state administration. Mahanta has taken up the anti-immigrant slogan to divert attention from the failures of his past governments," Chakraborty said.

AGP, he said, is also trying to get close to RTI activist and KMSS leader because Mahanta has realised that his party cannot return to power because of lack of people's trust.