Student bodies call bandh on September 12

'Centre's move will turn Assam into Bangla-land'

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Sept 10: Nine student organizations will enforce a 12-hour shutdown in the State on September 12 demanding withdrawal of the Union Home Ministry notification on 'minority' refugees.

In a controversial move, the Union Home Ministry had issued a notification on September 7 exempting minority refugees from Bangladesh and Pakistan who have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, from the relevant provisions of rules and order made under the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946.

In a joint press conference here today, representatives of the student bodies of Motock, Dimasa, Karbi, Goriya-Moriya, Sonowal-Kachari, Madahi, Bishnupuria Manipuri amd Moran communities said the notification will transform Assam into a "Bangla land".

"Assamese people will be reduced to second class citizens, and Bangla-speaking people will domite the State. But we won't allow it. The Centre should revoke the notification," they said.

Chief advisor of Motock Yuba Chatra Sanmilani Nixeswar Saikia said a section of people, including the Governor, have been showing disrespect to the Assam Accord.

"It seems to be a conspiracy of New Delhi to allow outsiders to take over Assam. The BJP will have to face the consequences of the notification," Saikia said, adding that the notification, if implemented, will wipe out the indigenous people from the State.

He said that if the Central government had to enforce such a policy, there was no need of updating the NRC.