BJP withdraws ‘immigrant’ word from ‘Vision Document’ after uproar

New Delhi: Barely hours after stoking a controversy over the use of the word ‘immigrants’ to describe north-easterners in its ‘Vision Document’ ahead of Delhi polls, the BJP has now said that it was a ‘printing mistake’.

In the document, the party promises to protect "north-eastern immigrants" with measures that include setting up special cells in all police stations "for the protection of the north-eastern migrants."

Clarifying the party’s stand, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “It was a clerical mistake, a printing error. We will correct the mistake,” he said.

North-easterners living in Delhi are often exposed to racism and complain of poor policing when they seek help.

Pointing out the blunder, Congress leader Ajay Maken had demanded an apology. "People from the North East are citizens, not immigrants," he said, adding, "The BJP must apologise."

The manifesto was released by BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi on Tuesday and promising to address fundamental issues like power, water, health care and the transport system in the capital.

Just got called 'immigrant' in my own country by the party that rules the country. Such sad state of affairs. #NEpeopleAreIndians

— Angellica Aribam (@AngellicAribam) February 3, 2015