NESO demands implementation of the 1985 Assam accord

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) The North East Students Organisation (NESO), representing students organisations from all the seven NE States, have urged the Centre to implement the 1985 Assam accord within a stipulated time frame else they would be forced to adopt a ''new way'' to meet the aspirations of the people of the region.

Addressing newsperson here today, NESO Chairman Samujjal Bhattacharya said the student body was demanding a special constitutional status for the entire North Eastern Region (NER) to have control over the land and other resources.

''Apart from India, there is no other democracy in the world, where there is no comprehensive immigration laws,'' he said adding that empowering NER with a special constitutional status would enable them to frame their own immigration laws to check the influx of illegal inflitrators who have already posed ''serious danger'' to the original inhabitants of the region.

Mr Bhattacharya said the NESO have also demanded immediate declaration of a special economic package for the region, with the conditions of hundred per cent job reservation for the " III" and "IV" categories jobs and also fix a resonable quota for the other higher grade jobs for the people of the region.

''If these do not materialise, we will have to do something to grab those jobs,'' he added.

NESU General Secretary NSN Lotha said it is strange that there is a one set of law for identification of the foreigners or illegal migrants for the entire country but the same is not applicable in the case of Asom.

He alleged that the Centre is playing a "Carrot and Stick" policy towards the NER with the primary object of dividing the entire region into various groups, which they have failed to do so far.

''Now it is time they should genuinely chalk-out programmes in such a way where by all militants groups should also be invited for a comprehensive talk to sort out the various problems of the region in a political and peaceful manner.'' He claimed that right now at least fourteen militant Jehadi groups from Bangladesh is operating from the region and there are virtually no efforts from the Centre to tackle them. ''The students of this region will not sit idle to see that the region becomes a part of the greater Bangladesh, he warned.

MORE UNI BKS-DG SHB VV1640