Samujjal hits out at BJP on Bill

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 9: All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya has said yet again that under no circumstance Assam should take the burden of Bangladeshi Hindus who have entered the State after 1971.

Talking to newsmen in the city today, Bhattacharya said: “We’ve taken the responsibility of all Bangladeshis who entered the State before March 24, 1971, and as such there’s no question of shouldering the responsibilities of any Bangladeshis entering Assam after the cut-off date. If the red carpet is rolled out for such foreigners, the identity, language and culture of the Assamese people in the State will be at stake.”

The AASU chief adviser continued: “The people of Assam voted for the BJP with the hope that the government of the party would protect the domition of the indigenous people in the State. In the run-up to the last Assembly poll in the State, the BJP spoke in favour of the interest of the indigenous people of the State. However, after coming to power, the government of the party speaks in favour of Bangladeshi foreigners. The party was even on record terming the last Assembly election as the second Battle of Saraighat. In fact, by dumping Bangladeshi Hindus in Assam Prime Minister rendra Modi wants to deal a body blow to the Assamese identity, language and culture.”

Reacting to State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent statement that the existence of Assamese in Assam should be ensured by bringing Bangladeshi Hindus from Bangladesh, Bhattacharya said: “Only an indigenous Assamese with a fragile mind can make such a statement.”