SILCHAR, Oct 30 - Reacting against the recent spate of protests across the State against the Centre�s decision to grant citizenship to the displaced and persecuted Bengali Hindus and other minorities from Bangladesh, the Cachar district BJP has said said that such instances of chaos will hamper the Government�s focus to usher in development in the State.
�The objections raised by a number of organisations including the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) will also harm the spirit of unity among the people of Barak and Brahmaputra valley,� Rajdeep Roy, State general secretary of BJP told journalists at the party office here on Saturday.
In the words of Rajdeep, at this stage when the Government is just four months old, development of the State should be the main purpose of those who are voted to power and those who have elected the new Government with much hopes and expectations. Reaffirming the stance of the BJP on the citizenship issue, Roy said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not just an Assam specific issue, rather the ramifications are of national concern. �I request the organisations including the AASU leadership to go ahead with the implementation of the Assam Accord. But the Liaquat-Nehru pact which was ignored for the past 70 years should also be considered as well,� Roy maintained.
An amendment to the Citizenship Bill will not only guarantee citizenship to the Bengalis but also a large contingent of Khasi, Jayantia, Garo, Santals and Manipuri-speaking people, Roy reminded the AASU leadership. Interestingly, Roy did not make any comment on the allegations raised by KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi. Citing the number of cases on Citizenship in the Foreigners Tribunal, Roy said that of the total cases settled so far only 6 per cent people have been identified as illegal Bangladeshis and the remaining have been declared as Indians. �There are around 50,000 cases in the Tribunal against the Bengali Hindus and only around 3,000 people who can reap the benefit if the Bill is passed,� Roy was quoted as saying. Interestingly, on being asked about the allegations raised by KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi, Roy termed the allegations to be irrelevant in the present scenario. The State BJP general secretary also criticised former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his anti�Bengali comments.
