GUWAHATI, Sept 16 - Members of the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) today staged a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan in protest against the recent decision of the Central Government to divide the foreigners on religious lines and asserted that Assam would not be allowed to be used as the dumping ground of Bangladeshi nationals.
The AASU also threatened to launch a Statewide satyagraha till the controversial notification of the Government of India is withdrawn. At the same time, the student body is seeking legal opinion on the issue.
Talking to The Assam Tribune after the demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya alleged that there is a competition among the political parties to protect the foreign nationals living illegally in Assam. He said the Central Government tried to give additional burden of Bangladeshi nationals to Assam, while with his statements, the Governor undermined the Assam Accord and the sacrifices of 855 martyrs of the Assam agitation. At the same time, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is also trying his best to protect the interest of foreign nationals.
Bhattacharya said Assam has already taken the burden of the Bangladeshi nationals who entered India before the midnight of March 24, 1971 and the State cannot take more burden of foreigners. By dividing the foreigners on religious lines, the Central Government is now trying to impose additional burden of foreigners, which is not acceptable for the indigenous people of the State.
The AASU chief adviser pointed out that before the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi had asserted that all illegal migrants would be forced to leave India, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had recently assured that the Centre is committed to implement all the clauses of the Assam Accord. But instead of fulfilling their commitments, the BJP-led Government at the Centre is now trying to use Assam as a dumping ground of foreigners. He added that the people of Assam wanted a political change in Delhi, but even after the change the attitude of the Centre towards Assam has not changed.
