GUWAHATI, June 4 - The Prabrajan Virodhi Manch has alleged that the State government has failed to do its bit to safeguard the interest of the indigenous people of Assam even on the issues well within its jurisdiction.
Manch Convener and senior advocate Upamanyu Hazarika told mediapersons here today that both the BJP and the AGP are unwilling to take any step or stand on the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 despite the widespread protests across the State.
He also alleged that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has abdicated his responsibility by asking the Union government to form a committee to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord for Constitutional and administrative safeguard to the indigenous people of Assam.
�The Chief Minister, a past master at abdicating responsibility, has yet again lived up to his reputation, which is evident from the discussions with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on May 30. The sole effort has been to escape and divert the responsibility for actions which are within the domain of the State government and the State Legislature, to the Central government,� Hazarika said.
The Manch members argued that reserving the land, government jobs, trade licence and seats in educational institutions is the only way to save the indigenous people from becoming minority in the State.
�Such reservations, only for those who were citizens of India and residents in Assam in 1951, are subjects within the domain of the State Legislature and the State government. The Centre has virtually nothing to do with it. By adopting this course of action the Chief Minister and the State government have made it very clear that they have put the issue in cold storage,� Hazarika added.
The Manch, which is working against illegal infiltration, also criticised the AGP, which despite two terms in power could not fulfil its promise of safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people of Assam.
�A junior partner in the government, the party is organising mass signature campaigns and protest rallies against the government of which it is a part. Two-term Chief Minister Prafulla Mahanta is leading such protest activities. Yet, the party has accepted no responsibility for its failure to detect and depot illegal Bangladeshi migrants,� Hazarika mentioned.
Alleging that all the leaders of such mass protest movement change their stand once voted to power, the Manch stated that different organisations and forums are used by such leaders to further their political ambitions.
�The focus of protest should, therefore, be on making such leaders accountable to the people of Assam. The forums and organisations, which project such people as leaders of the masses, must resolve that none of their members will in future be permitted to enter electoral politics or take any benefit from government,� added Hazarika.
