GUWAHATI, Oct 3 - The All Assam Students� Union (AASU) has called upon all the political parties to make their stand clear whether they are in favour of protecting the interests of the indigenous people of Assam and the genuine Indian citizens living in the State. It also said that the political parties should clarify their stand on whether they support the detection and deportation of foreigners who entered Assam after the midnight of March 24, 1971 as per the provisions of the Assam Accord.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that instead of trying to protect the interests of foreigners, all the parties should concentrate on implementing the Assam Accord and providing constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people of Assam under the provisions of Clause 6 of the Accord.
Reiterating that the AASU would never accept the recent notification of the Centre to provide shelter to the citizens of Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India due to religious persecution, he said that Assam has taken the burden of foreigners who came to India before the midnight of March 24, 1971. He pointed out that as per the Assam Accord, all foreigners who entered India after March 24, 1971 should be detected and deported irrespective of their religion. But now the Government of India is trying to divide the foreigners on the basis of their religion, which is not acceptable.
