Keep Indigenous People’s Dominance Intact: AASU

GUWAHATI: In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) has made an appeal to the people of Assam to take a tough yet decisive and right decision that can keep the dominance of the indigenous people of the State intact.

The students’ body took such a decision at its recent meeting of representatives.

In a statement issued to the media, AASU president Dikanko Kumar Nath and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said that the BJP government at the Centre violated the Assam Accord by introducing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019 in the Parliament. They said that the AASU and the NESO (North East Students’ Union) could foil the move with support from various parties, including the Congress, Shiv Sena, JD(U), Akali Dal, NDA partners, the chief ministers of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram and the regional parties of the Northeast, besides 30 ethnic organizations of Assam.

The AASU leaders said that the problem still persists as the BJP says that it will reintroduce the CAB in Parliament which will divide Assam on religious lines. The agitation against the Bill will continue in the State and the Northeast, they said. “In the past five years, the Prime Minister failed to hold a single tripartite talk on the Assam Accord. Skipping Clause 5, the Centre tried to implement Cause 6 of the Assam Accord through mal explanation of constitutional safeguards. Both New Delhi and Dispur made commitment to seal the international border with Bangladesh. However, violating the assurance, they went ahead with handing over Assam land to Bangladesh. However, the border is not yet protected,” the statement said, and added: “Of late, the Union Home Ministry inaugurated smart fencing along the Bangladesh border. However, such a system cannot yield the desired results without permanent river patrolling, floating border outposts, second line of defense and shoot-at-sight order. This amply makes it clear that the India-Bangladesh border is yet to be sealed. What’s noteworthy is that the border protection scheme is going on under the directive of the Supreme Court.”

On flood and erosion, the AASU leaders said that like its predecessor, the BJP-led government had done precious little to solve the twin problem of flood and erosion in the State. “It has failed to solve the problem of ST status to the six ethnic groups and the problems of their groups of the State. It has failed to reopen Nagaon and Panchgram paper mills, the new fertilizer unit at Namrup, etc. Educational activities in Assam are frustrating. Contracts of mid-day meal, uniform and skill development have been given to outsiders. No separate employment division for the Northeast has been set up,” the statement said.

On mega dam, the AASU leaders said that earlier the BJP had opposed the Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project. “However, after coming to power at the Centre, neglecting the experts of Assam and their committee, it is out to go ahead with the hydel project. However, we’re here to oppose the move,” the statement said.

They said that they have raised some problems of Assam, and any neglect to such problems will affect the State.

AASU adviser in chief Samujjal Bhattacharya appealed to the people of the State to play a decisive role with a view to solving the problems of Assam and ensuring a secured future for them.

Also Read: Top Headlines