GUWAHATI, Feb 13 - The All Assam Students� Union (AASU) and North East Student�s Organization (NESO) have demanded that Inner Line Permit (ILP) System should be introduced in the entire North East region in the interest of the indigenous people of the region. The AASU is also of the view that the Government should not equate the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act , 2019 agitation in this region with that in other parts of the country.
AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya, who is also the adviser of the NESO, said that implementation of the ILP system is essential for the region. He said that as per the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, there was a provision for implementation of the ILP in some districts of Assam. However, it has never been implemented and just the day before passing the CAA in the Rajya Sabha, the Government of India withdrew the provision. He said that the Government of Assam kept quiet about it while, Meghalaya assembly has passed a resolution demanding that ILP should be introduced in entire state. The Assam Government should have put pressure on the Centre to introduce the ILP system, he added.
On the anti-CAA movement, Bhattacharya said that the movements in Assam and other states of the region cannot be equated with the rest of the country. The Supreme Court has also accepted the fact and decided to hear the petitions filed against the CAA from Assam and Tripura separately. He pointed out that though the people in other parts of the country are also agitating against the CAA, the situation in the North East is totally different as the identity of the indigenous people is under threat. Moreover, the people of the region are agitating peacefully, while, there have been incidents of violence in other parts of the country.
Reacting to comments on the anti-CAA movement by a section of BJP leaders, Bhattacharya said, �we are agitating because we want a permanent solution to the problem of infiltration of foreigners and the CAA will create a fresh problem. The Government should implement the Assam Accord in letter and spirit to bring an end to the problem of infiltration of foreigners.�
