NELECC's missive to PM for protection of linguistic and ethnic minorities

SILCHAR: North East Linguistic and Ethnic Coordination Committee (NELECC) based in Silchar in a missive sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday has sought his intervention for necessary steps for the protection of linguistic and ethnic minorities of Assam. CAA assented to by the President of India is yet to become operational as law due to non framing of rules and guidelines which are to be completed within the extended time due to expire in 60 days. Unless CAA is given effect to, a sense of fear will continue to lurk in the minds of the minorities for whose safeguards it is intended.

Minorities are concerned on another ground also. Justice B K Sharma Report on Clause 6 of Assam Accord has suggested production of pre 1951 documents by minorities to be considered as Assamese or indigenous people of Assam. This has generated a sort of fear psychosis among the non Assamese and this has happened as NELECC points out there has been no representation from other linguistic and ethnic minorities of Barak Valley on the Justice B K Sharma Committee. In fact, there has been no representation from Bengali Hindus, Manipuris, Dimasas, Hindi speaking people and other linguistic groups of Assam.

There is apprehension post 1951 groups of such people will become ineligible to enjoy all fundamental rights, jobs, contest for municipalities, gaon panchayats, legislative and parliamentary elections. They cannot buy land, a situation worse than that of pre CAA. During its meet with Justice B K Sharma Committee at the Circuit House here, NELECC representatives were told Assamese meant all those people also who came to Assam after 1971, particularly the religious persecuted from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

The memorandum at the same time recalls the painful experiences of minorities in the name of NRC, the uprooted Hindu Bengalis from East Pakistan who sought shelter in Assam also. Not only harassed by police but also sent to detention camps. The spectre of NRC continues to chase the Hindu Bengalis. Fresh notices are being served on them. More Foreigners' Tribunals are coming up. Asit Dutta, working president, Kankan Narayan Sikidar, general secretary, Santanu Naik, advisor, and other members who signed the NEELCC memorandum have fervently urged the Prime Minister of India to intervene for corrective measures in the larger interest of linguistic and ethnic minorities of Assam. The contents of the memorandum have been briefed to mediapersons at a press meet here by NEELCC leaders.

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