Centre's stand on India-Bangladesh border fencing needs clarity, says AASU

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) said that the Centre's stand on the India-Bangladesh border fencing in the Assam sector needed clarity.

Talking to The Sentinel today, AASU general secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah said, "We welcome Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the India-Bangladesh border in the Mankachar sector. Since he is the Union Home Minister and the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) is the nodal ministry for Assam Accord implementation, Shah's visit to the India-Bangladesh border bears significance. However, we have not got a clear picture of when and how the Centre will completely seal the Assam sector of the India-Bangladesh border. The government has not yet sealed the riverine border with Bangladesh through modern technology. As a signatory of the Assam Accord, we did propose the introduction of floating BOPs (border outposts) in the river. We do not know anything about what the Centre has done toward that end. Over four km in the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border is still unfenced. It is a major cause of concern for the state. The Centre's policy on all these issues is still obscure."

The AASU leader said, "Clause 6 is the soul of the Assam Accord. The MHA formed a high-power committee headed by Justice (retired) Biplab Kumar Sharma. The committee submitted its report. The fate of the report of the high-power committee remained obscure. Shah was silent on the report of the high-power committee during his visit to the state."

The AASU leader further said, "We want complete sealing of the Assam sector of the international border with Bangladesh, besides time-bound implementation of the Assam Accord."

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