Don't reopen very sensitive issues: Congress to NDA govt

Tharoor said that even calling public debate on such issues is “not an innocent” exercise.

On the issue of illegal immigration in Assam, he said, “At the moment, we urge that the government has an appropriate procedure to announce, this kind of irresponsible statement should not be made because it is really lighting a match at the petrol station.”

“We would urge restraint and abundant caution and we say this from long experience of governance in a country which is full of far bigger challenges... We don't treat people in an inhuman fashion and if we find that happening, we will be certainly speaking against it,” he said.  

His remarks came close on the heels of Union Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju terming as “a national problem” the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh and promising action against those “infiltrators” staying in Indian territory.

The minister said this when reporters sought his comment on BJP Assam unit's plan to launch ‘Bangladeshi bhagao abhiyan (push back Bangladeshis)' in the state.