Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Concern over State demographic changes

By Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, Nov 22 - A mass convention � Jatiya Sangkalpa Samabesh � organised under the aegis of the Loka Jagaran Mancha, Asom, at the Veterinary College playground, Khanapara here today, expressed serious concern over the demographic changes in the State effected by illegal influx from Bangladesh and pledged to undertake a series of initiatives for addressing the growing influx-induced socio-political concerns.

The convention adopted seven resolutions on the issue of large-scale cross-border infiltration into Assam over the decades and the resultant disturbing situation. It also pledged to protect and promote the 4,000-year composite heritage of Assam and its communities.

The demands made by the convention included freeing of all Bangladeshi Muslim encroachment on forest land, tribal belts and blocks, sattra and devalaya land, grazing ground, etc, at the earliest, besides detection and deportation of illegal migrants to Bangladesh by entering into an extradition treaty with that country.

�There has been organised encroachment on forest land, sattra land, grazing ground, etc, by Bangladeshi Muslim people with the authorities looking the other way. The resultant demographic change has ominous implications for the indigenous populace as they are getting increasingly marginalised in socio-political and economic spheres. The State Government must ensure that all encroachers are evicted,� it said.

It also demanded a special census of indigenous Muslim communities such as Gariya, Moriya, Deshi, etc, for safeguarding their interests.

By another resolution, the convention called for deletion of names of illegal migrants from the voters� list. It also resolved to form a common platform for safeguarding the interests of the State�s indigenous people.

�There have been a lot of misunderstanding and distrust among the indigenous communities. This needs to change as they have now to unite to resist the infiltrators,� it added.

By another resolution, the convention called for developing a healthy work culture among the indigenous communities and reducing their dependence on outsiders.

The convention further demanded that at least a hundred of the 126 Assembly constituencies were reserved for the indigenous communities.

A delegation of the Mancha will soon visit New Delhi to submit a memorandum to the Centre over the burning issues faced by the indigenous people.

Those who addressed the convention included DN Chakravartty, Prof Nirmal Kumar Choudhury, Harishankar Brahma, Jitendra Pradhani, Dr Jyotiprasad Bora, Hem Gogoi, Nanigopal Mahanta, Neelima Goswami, Hafizul Ahmed, Joseph Minz and Kuntala Deka.

Next Story