Mere promises won’t save indigenous people: All Assam Students’ Union(AASU)

Golaghat: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Saturday cautioned the ruling BJP that identity of the indigenous Assamese would not survive merely on promises and assurances but on fruitful and decisive actions by Dispur.

AASU chief advisor Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya told reporters here on Saturday that lakhs of indigenous people of Assam voted the BJP to the seat of power in Dispur in 2016 after the party promised to safeguard identity and rights of the Assamese people. The people of the State have, however, not seen the BJP taking any decisive actions to safeguard the identity of the indigenous people during the last two years of its regime, he said.

“The situation has come to such a pass that the indigenous people are now hitting the streets to safeguard their identity and culture following the Centre’s move to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the Parliament. If the controversial Bill is passed, there will be nothing left to safeguard the identity of Assamese people,” Dr Bhattacharjya said.

Criticizing Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for his stony silence on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Dr Bhattacharjya said the CM’s mere assurances and promises that he would not let anything go against the interest of the indigenous people, is not enough. “Sonowal will have to make his stand loud and clear. Whether he (CM) is with the people of Assam or with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill,” Bhattacharjya said.

Dr Bhattacharjya said when the BJP-supported Meghalaya Government could adopt a resolution to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the people of Assam are shocked to see the silence of the Assam Government on the issue.

Demanding publication of an error-free final NRC Dr Bhattacharjya appealed to the citizens and organizations concerned to file objections against suspected illegal foreigners whose names have been included in the complete draft NRC.

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