GUWAHATI, Aug 14 � Enraged at non-implementation of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit, the All Assam Students� Union today launched an offensive against the Centre and the State Government demanding a time-bound action plan for its effective implementation.
The AASU demanded of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Assam to make public their stand on the Assam Accord implementation during their respective speeches on the Independence Day tomorrow.
�The Centre and the State Government�s betrayal have entered 26 years since Assam Accord was signed by the then Prime Minister. We want to know if a national assurance, that too at the Prime Minister level , is not respected, what else will,� AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya told mediapersons today.
Members of the AASU resorted to State-wide hunger strike as a mark of protest for the non execution of the Accord. The hunger strike will continue till 6 am tomorrow.
�The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, in a customary fashion, will make a call to the sidetracked young people to join the mainstream. We want to ask them as to where is the mainstream and also want to know why the issues raised by non-violent and democratic means are not being addressed till date in spite of us being in the mainstream,� Dr Bhattacharya questioned.
He further stated that there cannot be any substitute for Assam Accord when it comes to safeguarding of the rights of indigenous people from the massive influx.
�The core issues of detecting and deporting have to be addressed through effective implementation of the Accord. Besides, as per the clauses 6 and 7 of the Accord, we need to be given a separate constitutional status with right over land and natural resources. Besides, steps to ensure economic uplift and declaration of flood as a national problem is a must,� Dr Bhattacharya pointed out.
�We are on the threshold of becoming second class citizens in our own land, which is the fallout of lack of sincerity by the Centre and the State Government,� he rued.
AASU president Sankar Prasad Rai and its general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi, while speaking on the occasion, lambasted all the political parties for not playing a pro-active role in ensuring implementation of the Accord.
