AASU, AXX, 6 ethnic groups call on PM at Borjhar

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Jan 19: The leaders of All Assam Students Union (AASU), Axom Xahitya Xabha (AXX) and the six ethnic communities of the State today called on Prime Minister rendra Modi separately at LGBI Airport in Borjhar.

The AASU delegation led by chief advisor Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, president Dipanka Kumar th and general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi submitted three separate memorandums to the Prime Minister pressing the issues of illegal immigrants, Assam Accord and constitutiol safeguard for Assamese people. The delegation also urged the Prime Minister to resolve these issues within a stipulated time frame.

Speaking to the media after meeting the Prime Minister, Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya said, "We submitted three memorandums on three key issues of the State. We made it clear to the Prime Minister that Assam will not bear the burden of any immigrant who came to the State after 1971, be he Hindu or Muslim."

The AASU delegation also pressed for early completion of the Bogibeel bridge, appointment of Northeast youths in C & D categories of Central jobs, declaration of the flood problem of Assam as a tiol problem, safeguarding of Majuli river island etc. It also urged the Prime Minister to set up an Indian Institute of Science, Education & Research as per the Assam Accord in the State, along with setting up a Skill Development University and a Drug Discovery Institute.

On the big dam issue, the AASU delegation urged the Prime Minister to stop the construction works and said, "The Centre will have to take into consideration the views and opinions of the experts from Assam." It also said that the 168 hydro projects under way in  Aruchal Pradesh should undergo a cumulative downstream impact study before getting further clearances.

"The Prime Minister has given us assurance in this regard. He also said that he will have a talk with us about the Assam Accord. But we don't want any assurances now, we want results," said Dr Bhattacharya.

On the other hand, representatives of the six ethnic communities on Tuesday again pressed the Prime Minister to accord ST status at the earliest.