GUWAHATI - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Saturday said illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and insurgency continue to be the twin challenges facing the northeast with central funds meant for development going into the hands of the militants.

‘It is a matter of concern that development funds are being siphoned off with large chunks going into the hands of the militant groups in the northeast,’ the BJP president told journalists here.

Singh was in Guwahati to attend a party workers meeting.

‘Infiltration is a matter of serious concern, but it appears the central government is not very serious in solving the problem,’ the BJP president said.

On the issue of a massive fake currency racket flourishing in the northeast, Singh said this was nothing but ‘economic terrorism’ perpetrated by countries inimical to Indian interests.

‘There is fake currency even in nationalised banks. This is a deliberate attempt by inimical forces to weaken the economy by way of counterfeit currency notes,’ he said.

Singh called for setting up of a separate security council for the northeast so that it is able to devise region-specific measures to deal with a host of problems.

‘We also advocate multipurpose identity cards in the northeast to check the infiltration issue and update of the National Register of Citizens,’ he said.

On the electoral tie up with the regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in Assam ahead of the parliamentary elections, the BJP president was optimistic of a seat sharing pact between the two parties getting formalised soon.

‘We hope to work together with the AGP to oust the Congress party,’ Singh said.