Complete Draft NRC Publication is D-Day for Assam, Tribute to Martyrs: All Assam Students' Union (AASU)

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 30: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) which led the historic six-year long anti-foreigners’ movement, on Monday termed the publication of the complete draft NRC as D-day in the history of Assam and a step forward to justify sacrifices of more than 855 martyrs for the cause of making the State free from illegal Bangladeshis.

“Even though there are many more steps including complete sealing of the India-Bangladesh border to prevent illegal migration across the border, publication of the draft NRC is one of the most positive and concrete steps towards making Assam free from illegal foreigners,” AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjya told The Sentinel said while adding that anyone who joined and faced atrocities during the Assam Movement, is elated to see the draft NRC.

He said the NRC will be the lone document and tool to safeguard identity and rights of indigenous people of the State.

Bhattacharjya, however, said there is no need to fear for indigenous and anyone irrespective of religion who came to Assam before March 25, 1971 in case their names have not been appeared in the draft NRC. He said the AASU will stand with these people and ensure inclusion of their names in the final NRC.

Making a fervent appeal to the people to maintain peace and harmony, a joint statement issued by the AASU president and general secretary Dipanka Kumar Nath and Lurin Jyoti Gogoi respectively said an NRC free from names of illegal Bangladeshis will only justify sacrifices of hundreds of martyrs of the Assam Movement. The AASU in the statement also said it will hold discussion whether the draft NRC has been able to reflect the Centre’s statement in the Parliament that there are 50 lakh illegal Bangladeshis living in the State.

The AASU has set up a cell at Swahid Nyas at Uzan Bazar to help citizens to see their names in the draft NRC.