New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) It was not the first time Assam saw violence, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Thursday, stressing that it was the duty of all political parties to work for peace in the state.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha after BJP leader Arun Jaitley urged the authorities to go to the root of the problem in Assam, Shinde said the government understands the feelings of opposition parties and shares their concern.

We are passing through tough times, it is not the first time Assam is witnessing violence, he said, referring to ethnic clashes that left about 70 people dead last month. It is our joint duty to work for the state.

Jaitley earlier urged the home minister not to treat Assam as a law and order problem. Please go into the root cause of why this is happening.

On Wednesday, the BJP had moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on the Assam violence, which got defeated after a daylong debate.

The BJP says the violence is due to the influx of thousands of Bangladeshi nationals into India through the porous border in the northeast.