Thousands resolve for a Bangladeshi-free Assam

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 22: Thousands of people who gathered at a rally organized by the Lok Jagaran Mancha at Khapara here gave a clarion call for a Bangladeshi-free Assam, as speakers from various organizations highlighted the danger posed by continuous infiltration of immigrants from across the border.

In its resolutions, the rally - christened as the Jatiya Sankalpa Samabesh - stressed the need to clear the encroached tracts of tiol parks, reserved forests, xatras-devalayas etc from the clutches of Bangladeshi migrants, identification and deportation of all illegal migrants and deletion of mes of illegal migrants from voters lists.

The chairperson of the meeting Dr Rohini Kumar Barua, while addressing the rally, highlighted the threat looming over the indigenous people of the State due to ubated influx. He called for a sustained intellectual and cultural movement to safeguard the indigenous people.

Former Chief Election Commissioner HS Brahma pointed to the demographic changes in the State since 1951 and was skeptical as to how minorities became became a "majority" in some Assam districts.

Veteran jourlist Dhiren Chakraborty accused the ULFA of fomenting influx from Bangladesh.

"The ULFA forced lakhs of Hindi-speaking people to flee Assam. Around 50,000 rickshaw-pullers, 2.5 lakh cart-pullers and other daily wage workers besides an equal number of masons fled the State. The illegal migrants then occupied the vacuum created by the fleeing Hindi-speaking labour class," Chakraborty said.

Noted litterateur Lakhindan Bora said Bangladeshi migrants are domint in eleven Assam districts. "Fifty assembly constituencies are in the grip of illegal migrants," Bora said, emphasizing on the importance of compiling a correct NRC.

"The Central and the State governments should be firm in dealing with the problem. The indigenous people also should be alert," he said.

Xatradhikars, leaders from ATTSA, All Dimasa Students Union, AASAA, AKRASU etc were present at the rally, along with several noted persolities from various fields.