Govt, migrants aiding each other: AASU

By A City Reporter GUWAHATI, July 12 – Lambasting the State government for its failure to drive out the illegal Bangladeshi migrants from the State boundaries even after three years of scrapping of the IM (DT) Act by the Supreme Court, the All Assam Students’ Union today alleged that the Tarun Gogoi government, illegal Bangladeshis and fundamentalist forces are supporting one another’s existence in Assam. Launching an agitation programme on the third anniversary of the scrapping of the IM (DT) Act, the students’ body organised a ‘Sangram Dhwani’ programme across the AASU district units in the State with beating of drums and khols, to “organize people against the danger ahead in the form of Bangladeshis.” AASU advisor Samujjal Kr Bhattacharya addressing a gathering at the Latasil playground said that the government cannot turn its back to this apparent threat to the very existence of Assamese community neither it can deny the fact that the fundamentalists and jehadi groups like Al-qaida and ISI are operating from Assam. “Time and again, their existence has been proven in the State,” said Bhattacharya. “As that Gogoi government is patronizing the illegal migrants from Bangladesh and thereby pleasing the fundamentalist forces, no doubt that they would like the Congress government to continue,” he added. Once again warning the political parties of the State to think beyond vote-bank politics for the greater interest of the State, he also went hammer and tongs against the Assam Gana Parishad and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta for “cheating” the people of the State after assuming power. “To get the Bangladeshi vote, Mahanta and his ministers forgot all the promises they made to the people of the State and provisions of Assam Accord, signed 23 years back. The students’ body also condemned the ruling alliances in the Centre for not giving due importance to the problem of illegal influx in the State. “Whereas, the Indo-Pakistan border was sealed completely in three years with barbed wire and arrangements of electronic lights were done, on Indo-Bangladesh Border, even the fencing work has not been completed in last 23 years,” added AASU generally secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi.“Illegal intrusion is no more a border problem. These unwelcome guests are now occupying our protected areas of tribal blocks, belts, our national parks and wildlife sanctuaries,” Bhattacharyya reiterated. “The problem, which was recognised by the Supreme Court three years back, is still haunting the State. Now, the common people, disgusted with the political leaders would take the reins in their hands to drive out the illegal intruders,” he added. Expressing solidarity with the AASU, the chief advisor of All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union Bhaskar Dahal, advisor of Moran Students’ Union Biranchi Neog, Khanindra Chandra Das of All Assam Semi-Central Employees Association and president of All Assam Dimasa Students’ Union Prafulla Hafila assured the ASSU of their whole-hearted support in the movement against the illegal immigrants. source: assam tribune

AGP may move SC over Govt inaction

NEW DELHI, July 12 – Accusing the Congress-led Central and Assam Governments of disregarding the Supreme Court's verdict on detection and deportation of illegal migrants, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today said that they are looking at the option of moving the Apex Court, alleging non-implementation of its orders. Addressing a press conference here today, to mark the completion of three years of the historic order of repealing the controversial IM (DT) Act, AGP MPs Biren Baishya, Sarbananda Sonowal and Kumar Deepak Das today slammed the Congress Government both at the Centre and the State for indulging in vote bank politics.The Government is yet to start the process of identification of the foreigners and the tribunals are yet to function. The updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) is not yet ready. The Home Ministry has failed to keep its own deadline of sealing the Indo-Bangladesh border by December 2006, said Sonowal, who was the main petitioner, on whose plea the Act was scrapped.He said he was going to consult senior legal counsel, Ashok Desai on moving the Supreme Court yet again pleading that the Government, despite lapse of three years, has not carried out its orders.The AGP leaders conceded that not much impact has been made by the repeal of the IM (DT) Act because of the Congress Party's attitude. The State Government has not taken any steps to implement the orders in toto, he alleged. Added Deepak Das, the Congress Party has disregarded the Accord signed during Rajiv Gandhi's regime. Unabated influx is still on and along with migrants, fundamentalist elements are also infiltrating. Assam today has as many as 14 fundamentalist outfits, he added.Though the foreigners' issue has always assumed centre stage in every election, Biren Baishya said raking the issue would not have any impact on its relations with the AUDF. The BJP has already made its intensions clear by declaring that the Bangladeshi immigration problem was going to be one of their major election planks."All political parties have agreed that March 25, 1971 is the cut-off date and any foreigners who has entered the State after that have to go. There should be no dispute over the Assam Accord," Baishya said, mindful that his Party is also talking to AUDF.Asked about the AGP's strategy for the forthcoming polls, he said it would be endeavour of his Party to ensure that all the anti-Congress votes are intact.The AGP, meanwhile, has declared that they are vote against the UPA Government and the nuclear agreement in the Lok Sabha during the Confidence Motion. source: assam tribune