GUWAHATI, Sept 2 - Rapping the State government, and particularly the leaders who took part in the Assam Movement, for conveniently disowning the responsibility of the �failure� of the NRC exercise, senior Supreme Court advocate Upamanyu Hazarika today said that the common indigenous people will have to take up the lead in mounting pressure for reserving land and jobs for the indigenous people in Assam.
Addressing the media here, Hazarika, who is also the convener of the Prabrajan Virodhi Manch, said that instead of losing hope and crying foul over the inclusion of a �huge number of foreigners in the National Register,� the people should rather concentrate on whatever means and tools are left in the hands that can save them from becoming a minority in their own land.
�Two issues, at this juncture, call for our undivided attention. The first is to find out the discrepancies in the NRC through compiling the data that can help us understand in what manner the NRC process has been subverted. We will also take up the issue with the Assam Public Works and other interested organisations for outlining a concrete plan of action on this front.
�The second issue is that the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court is seized of the issue of validity of the cut-off date and grant of citizenship to children of foreigners. We need to remember that on both the issues, the government has taken an anti-indigenous stand. In this case, the petitioner Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha does require financial support. All their lawyers in this case are working for free. It is our duty to help and support the Mahasangha to effectively fight the case,� he said. The Manch, fighting against illegal infiltration, appealed to the common people to come forward to help the Mahasangha fight this case.
�After consultation with different stakeholders, we will intimate the public about the manner and mode of providing financial assistance through a transparent system,� he added.
The Manch also criticised the political leaders, who started their public life through the Assam Agitation for not shouldering the responsibility for the dissatisfactory outcome of the NRC.
�Even Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who last year had said that the draft NRC was a protective shield for the indigenous people, has now changed his tune. He has pushed the responsibility of the NRC failure upon the Supreme Court and the NRC officials,� the Manch members alleged.
