Cong picks IMDT Act architect

Guwahati, Mar 20 (UNI) In an apparent bid to send a signal about its 'commitment' to protect the interests of minorities, the Congress in Asom has given poll ticket to senior politician Abdul Muhib Mazumdar, the architect of the scrapped Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983.

The Congress has decided to nominate Mr Mazumdar, who left the party about ten years ago, to contest from Hailakandi Assembly constituency in Barak Valley in the forthcoming election. Mr Mazumdar was instrumental in formulation of the IMDT Act, 1983 which was scrapped by the Supreme Court in July last year. The Act was enacted and put in force in Asom way back in 1983 by the then Congress government at the Centre.

Through the enforcement of the Act only in Asom, Congress all along had been projecting itself as the messiah for the minority community. The Act was made out to be a shield for the minorities against possible harassment in the name of detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the state. It helped Congress immensely to retain its vote bank among the minority immigrants in last several elections.

The Congress was put on the dock by prominent minority organizations, including the State Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind after the Supreme Court declared the IMDT Act ultra vires to the Constitution.

These minority groups have come together to form anti-Congress party called Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) headed by the state Jamiat president Badaruddin Azmol. The had AUDF accused the Congress of putting up a weak defence for IMDT Act in the apex court.

In order to counter the AUDF the Congress-led government at the Centre has formulated Foreigners (Tribuals for Assam) Order, 2006 to provide an IMDT Act-like 'shield' for minorities against harassment in the process of detection of illegal migrants.

The party has now fielded Mr Mazumdar to drive home the message about its concern for the welfare of minorities in the state.

Mr Mazumdar had won the assembly polls from Hailakandi LAC as Congress candidate in 1985 but failed to retain the seat in 1991 polls. Subsequently, he left Congress and formed the United People's Party of Assam(UPPA) and won the 1996 assembly polls as an ally of the Asom Gana Parishad. He was a cabinet minister in the Prafulla Kumar Mahanta-led AGP ministry during 1996-2001. He lost his seat in the 2001 polls that he contested on Samajwadi Party ticket.

UNI XC PL KLC1520