AASU demands immediate implementation of Assam accord

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) The All Assam Student's Union (AASU) today urged the Central Government to immediately initiate the process of deportation of illegal Bangladeshis from Assam as per the spirit of the Assam accord signed between the Centre, State Government and AASU.

AASU advisor Smujjal Bhattacharya told newsmen here that the commitment made by the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the implementation of Assam accord had not yet been initiated.

The Centre as well as the State Governments were to be equally blamed for this utter failure in the implementation of the Assam accord, he added.

Mr Bhattacharya said each and every action of the Centre towards the North-Eastern region was a clear cut sign of ill-treatment of the region. Sighting example, he said the entire Indo-Pak border was sealed within three year's but the Indo-Bangladesh border still remained highly porous and people from across the border were entering Assam at will to create trouble for the nation.

''Since the decision-makers who sit at Delhi are more closer to the Indo-Pak border, so they take prompt actions,'' he added.

Mr Bhattacharya charged the present Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi with helping the illegal Bangladeshis in enrolling their names in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

He said the people of Assam were genuinely tired and frustrated over non-fulfillment of Assam acord.

He pointed out the serious observations made by the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court regarding the threat received by the indigenous people of Assam from the overgrowing strength of illegal Bangladeshis. ''So, we strongly feel the necessity of taking some immediate steps.'' This included immediate sealing of the remaining part of the Indo-Bangladesh border. Prepare the NRC as per the decision of the tripartite talk held on may 5th, 2005. Detect and deport the illegal Bangladeshis entered into the territory of Assam after March 25, 1971 as per Assam Accord.

Mr Bhattacharya said AASU further demanded eviction of all Bangladeshis and fundamentalist groups including ISI from Assam.

''Ensure Constitutional Safeguard to the indigenous people of Assam as per the Assam accord. Government should give exemplary punishment to those officials who have issued passports to the illegal Bangladeshis. Ensure the running of Ashok Paper Mill with its full capacity as per the Assam Accord,'' he added.

He said a high power delegation comprising three AGP MPs Biren Baishya, Dr Arun Sharma and Sarbanand Sonowal, AASU President Sankar Prasad Ray and General Secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi had an hour-long meeting with the Home Minister Shivraj Patil and they handed over a memorandum on the issue to him.

But the delegation was not at all happy or satisfied with the response from the Home Minister, Mr Bhattacharya added.

Responding to a volley of questions, Mr Bhattacharya asserted that AASU had already launched the campaign of detecting and handing over of the the illegal Bangladeshi migrants to the proper authorities for the necessary actions and even if the Government failed to take the actions, people were not going to tolerate this for long.

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