Assam crisis: aggression by illegal migrants
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, September 01 2012:
Indigenous Organizations of North East in Delhi, a collective body of North East diaspora, youths and student bodies based in Delhi today held a public meeting over the issue of illegal migration in the capital's constitution club.
Strong statement over the Central Governments' apathy as well as the State Government's inaction in preventing violence and providing security in the recent violence in Bodo areas in Assam were highlighted.
Eminent leaders of Northeast diaspora and Delhi based student organizations put forth the issue confronting the region in relation to the ongoing problem in Assam and they included representatives of the Karbi Student Union, All Assamese Student Association, All Bodo Student Union, Dimasa Student Union, Tripura Student Forum , Achik Youth Association including president of Manipur Diaspora and Bodo Association.
Member of Parliament S.K Bwiswmuthiary stated that the recent violence arose due to aggression against the indigenous community (the Bodos) by illegal migrants.
He clarified that the clash must not be term an ethnic or a communal violence.
"There is no law or regulation to identify who is a citizen and who is not" said the MP mentioning that the Assam Accord is not properly implemented.
"It is a tragedy of not only Bodos but for India", he decried.
The Indigenous Organization also released a booklet today which provides basic facts and implication of illegal migration.
It stated that 1950 law to expel migrants from Assam was openly violated by political parties.
According to the Supreme Court of India judgement of July 2005, "there are interested religious and political elements encouraging immigration" .
The publication noted that large scale illegal migration from Bangladesh is dangerous and need to be checked and no misconceived notion of secularism should be allowed.
It underlined several acts and laws that have been enacted since 1946 for protection of indigenous / tribal vis a vis land and identity.
But it also lamented that some of this were complicated and have been manipulated.
It argued that out the 4.06 lakhs estimated displaced people in the current violence , the actual number is not more than 70,000 .
It also claimed that illegal migrants are benefiting from the relief packages, where several illegal migrants are coming even though they are not affected.
It observed that the tension in Bodo areas, Assam and North East at large would continue.
It stated that if illegal migration is not checked, it would pose a serious threat to national security.