pune former chief minister of assam prafulla kumar mahanta on saturday said that infiltration of illegal immigrants into assam was never taken up as a national issue mahanta said that the need to cease influx of foreigners and prevention of insurgents have remained challenges before the government and several organisations operating in the troubled statemahanta was speaking at a function organised by sarhad a citybased organisation former mp and wife of mahanta jayshree mahanta was also present mahanta said besides illegal immigration and insurgency assam and northern states lack in basic infrastructure like road rail connectivity absence of educational opportunities has become a major concern for youngsters he also threw light on the effects natural calamities and floodlike disasters have had on assam over the yearsmahanta said there is influx of a large number of foreigners into the state mostly from bangladesh the border with bangladesh is about 3000 km running through assam meghalaya tripura mizoram and west bengal the work to construct a wall on the assambangladesh border is still incomplete he said mahanta said that the issue of illegal migration was never taken up as a national issue many top political leaders dont feel like visiting assam to understand the situation there they feel alienated he also criticised the congress party on its stand on illegal immigrants mahanta alleged that illegal immigrants are used by the congress during elections the former chief minister said that the state of assam has a rich history of art and culture besides a welldeveloped florafauna the people here need opportunities to bring about development using these resources at the beginning of the function mahanta was honoured with a puneri pagadi by abhay firodia sarhads founder president sanjay nahar delivered the welcome speech