GUWAHATI, March 10 - Senior advocate and Prabrajan Virodhi Manch convener Upamanyu Hazarika today alleged that despite coming to power on the promise of driving out illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has categorically ignored the issue so much so that the crucial issue has been completely sidelined by the party.
Hazarika, who would contest as an independent candidate from Guwahati in the ensuing Lok Sabha election, said that his agenda would primarily focus on issues of indigenous identity.
�It will be my endeavour to make indigenous identity as the primary election issue so that all political parties will have to declare whether they stand with the indigenous people or against them,� Hazarika told the media.
He also alleged that the BJP and the State government, enmeshed in multiple scams like PNRD jobs, have chosen the route of silence on crucial issue of indigenous identity. �Despite getting overwhelming mandate in 2014 and 2016 on the issue of illegal migration, the party has given up even the pretence of such an assurance in this election.�
�These has been a complete betrayal by the BJP and AGP on the issue of protecting indigenous identity over the last five years, and they are now seeking to take advantage of their own wrongs,� he said.
�The agenda in the forthcoming elections is to instill fear of Bangladeshi migration and threat to the indigenous people and capitalising on such insecurity seeking indigenous support,� Hazarika added.
Hazarika said that the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) and its advisor Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya have rightly demanded that all political parties make their stand clear whether they support the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or protection of the indigenous identity.
