Tribal literary bodies unite against Delhi

REGULARISATION OF REFUGEES

Joint forum floated, AXX and AASU conspicuous by absence at meet

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Oct 3: Upping their ante against the Centre's notification regularizing the stay of minority refugees from Bangladesh and Pakistan, as many as eight literary bodies of indigenous communities of the State today floated a joint forum to fight for scrapping of the order.

The forum - christened the 'United Forum For Indigenous People of Assam' - was formed at a meeting held at the Bodoland Guest House here. Representatives from Deuri Sahitya Sabha, Dimasa Sahitya Sabha, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Karbi Sahitya Sabha, Garo Sahitya Sabha, Rabha Sahitya Sabha, Mising Sahitya Sabha and Bodo Sahitya Sabha were present at the meeting, but the Axom Xahitya Xabha and the All Assam Students Union, despite being invited, were conspicuous by their absence.

"The meeting unimously resolved that the Central government notification is absolutely ucceptable and detrimental to the very existence of the indigenous people of Assam," a resolution passed in the meeting said, demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification.

It also described the notification as part of a conspiracy to convert Assam into a "permanent settlement" for illegal migrants.

Expressing concern over at the growing activities of Muslim fundamentalists in Assam, Bodo Sahitya Sabha general secretary Kamalakanta Mushahary urged the Central and State governments to take stern steps against such elements to root out the mece.

The new forum's chairman Dr Dayanda Borgohain said "there is a well-orchestrated move by the Central government to incite commul clashes and destroy Assam."

The literary bodies decided to hold a mass rally in Guwahati within two months, after which a delegation will go to New Delhi to raise the issue with the Prime Minister.

Appealing to all political and non-political organisations to stand united against the "present critical situation" in the State, the meeting also resolved to seek a white paper from the Central government on immigrants - both Muslim and non-Muslim.

The organizations will stage a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in Guwahati demanding withdrawal of the controversial notification.