Congress demands rehabilitation of evicted families

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, Dec 26: More than 5,000 Congress activists on Monday took out a protest rally from Rajiv Bhavan to the office of Deputy Commissioner of Darrang demanding rehabilitation and compensation to the evicted families before conducting any eviction drive, and submitted a memorandum to the Assam Governor and the Chief Minister.

Leader of the Opposition, Deba Brata Saikia, Rajya Sabha member Santiuse Kujur, legislator Abdul Khalek and Illias Ali, former minister Basanta Das, former Parliamentarian Madhab Rajbongshi, Congress leader Pradyut Bhuyan and several other Congress activists took part in the protest rally.

Talking to the media persons, leader of the Opposition, Deba Brata Saikia said that the Congress was not against the eviction drive conducted in PGR or VGR in the light of the order passed by the Supreme Court of India, but the State Government and the district administration should ensure the rehabilitation of the evicted families as per the provisions of the law.

“The recent eviction drive conducted in Phuhuratoli in Darrang district and other areas of the State has violated the minimum human rights of the evicted families and as they are yet to be declared as foreigners by the court of law. Hence it is the duty and responsibility of the State Government to take up the rehabilitation process,” said Deba Brata Saikia. However, he also made it clear that the Congress was not against the eviction drive conducted in PGR or VGR. He on the other hand, made an appeal not to put the label of ‘illegal Bangladeshi’ on the minority community people living in the char areas of the State until and unless they are declared as foreign tiols.