BJP president Nitin Gadkari today said that illegal migrants living in Assam and other parts of the country are responsible for the attacks on people from the North East and the recent violence at Mumbai's Azad Maidan.

"The attacks in some parts of the country on people from the North East is unfortunate... These are being perpetrated by illegal migrants living in the country. There is a foreign hand in this. The Centre should deal firmly with such incidents," Gadkari said.

"The problem in Assam is not religious or communal but that of the Indian versus the outsider. Anti-national people are involved in this violence. Similarly, in Mumbai the crowd had waived Pakistani flag and made provocative remarks. They also vandalised the martyrs' memorial," Gadkari added.

Gadkari said he has directed Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar as well as CMs of other BJP ruled states to ensure that no harm is done to people from the North East residing in their states.