GUWAHATI, April 1 - Contrary to the festive spirit of the Namami Brahmaputra festival, many parts on the banks of the mighty river and char areas are still occupied by people of doubtful nationality. Highlighting the �real picture� of both the banks of the Brahmaputra, the Prabrajan Virodhi Manch today said that the spirit of festivities cannot hide the real threat to the indigenous people.
The Manch that brought out a video clip Brahmaputrar Jiya Sobi of the encroachment on the Namami Brahmaputra festival site in Mayong and rampant encroachment at several other places on the banks of the Brahmaputra, said that the encroachers who were evicted from the festival site in Mayong, have settled about 200 metres away on the same site, showing little concern about administrative action.
Manch convener Upamanyu Hazarika, while addressing the media here, said that the State is in need of a strong land policy safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people. This, Hazarika added, can be a strong deterrence to the illegal migrants.
The Manch would start a signature campaign from Batadrawa, the birthplace of Srimanta Sankaradeva from April 2 to express the will of the people that it is only the reservation of land, with 1951 as the base year, which can save the indigenous people from becoming minority.
The representation will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through the deputy commissioner of every district of the State, from where the signatures are to be gathered, the Manch convener informed.
