Party spokesman Shashi Tharoor also cautioned restraint on the issue of tackling infiltration in Assam contending that the problem cannot be solved by "wave of a wand" and "human lives are at stake".
Talking to reporters, Congress spokesperson Shashi Tharoor said, "We have taken a very clear position that this is not the time in the country to reopen very sensitive issues raised by several leaders."
He was asked about Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju's remarks that Uniform Civil Code must be implemented.
Tharoor said that even calling public debate on such issues is "not an innocent" exercise.
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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.
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.