Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma feels that the eviction drive currently underway in the state is the last opportunity for securing the 'Assamese nationality'.
The Chief Minister said that no government in the state could dismantle a single house of illegal migrants after the Assam Agitation. However, this government has reclaimed 1.29 lakh bighas of land from the occupation of illegal immigrants, he said, adding that a section of people criticizing what the state government has been doing is simply not just.
The chief minister said, "Our uncompromising stand against illegal encroachment is to protect the state from further adverse demographic influence and preserve the interests of the indigenous people. Are we doing it right or not? People are the best judges for our actions."
The chief minister further said, "The eviction drive will continue in the run-up to the election and beyond. I'll push back Bangladeshis as and when I get a chance."
According to sources, apart from forest lands, PGRs and VGRs, people of suspected nationalities have even encroached upon lands in urban areas like Guwahati, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Golaghat, Nagaon, etc. A section of people have made the situation cosy for such people of suspected nationalities by erecting cottages in such urban areas under the very noses of the local administrations that often opt to look the other way. This is despite the standing norm that house owners need to provide details of their tenants to their local police stations. However, neither the police nor the house owners follow this rule.
The situation is tense now in Upper Assam, where a section of organizations putting pressure on such settlers, asking them to leave Upper Assam, bag and baggage. The organizations have set deadlines for the settlers. Some of the settlers have been deserting Upper Assam in hordes.
However, the situation is volatile due to sporadic clashes between the organizations and settlers, sometimes involving the indigenous Muslims in Upper Assam.
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