Guwahati: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a key ally of the BJP in Assam, has decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking exemption of the state from the Centre’s new directive on immigrant foreigners.
AGP vice-president and former MP Kumar Deepak Das told reporters on Saturday that the party will challenge the order, arguing that it goes against the provisions of the historic Assam Accord of 1985.
“Any attempt to dilute the Accord will be strongly opposed by our party. We have resolved to file a writ petition before the Supreme Court demanding Assam’s exemption from this directive,” he said.
The Centre’s order, issued under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, permits Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India by December 31, 2024, without valid documents, to stay on grounds of religious persecution.
Das pointed out that this directly contradicts the Assam Accord, which fixed March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for detecting and deporting illegal immigrants.
He reminded that the AGP had earlier petitioned the Supreme Court against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, demanding Assam’s exemption from its ambit as well.
“This new order is a serious obstacle to the implementation of the Accord. Our position remains firm — all clauses of the pact must be honoured in letter and spirit,” Das added.
On the question of whether AGP would reconsider its alliance with the NDA, Das said the party had not taken a call but placed faith in the judiciary.
“We believe the Supreme Court will deliver justice in this matter,” he said.
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The order has triggered strong political reactions in Assam.
The Congress alleged it was a “conspiracy” to legitimise foreigners at the cost of Assamese identity, while the Assam Jatiya Parishad accused the BJP of committing the “biggest betrayal” by prioritising Hindu Bangladeshi votes.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) also reiterated its demand for withdrawal of the CAA from the state.
The BJP, however, defended the directive, insisting that the opposition was misleading the public and that the order was not an extension of citizenship eligibility deadlines.
