The All Assam Students Union (AASU)

The influx from Bangladesh to Assam (India) remained a major issue of concern for the Assamese civil societies and advocacy groups since Seventies. The All Assam Students Union (AASU) led historic Assam Agitation was the outcome of the prolonged anxiety of the indigenous people of the State against the illegal Bangladeshis living Assam. The movement in early Eighties to deport millions of Bangladeshis from the State had united all social and advocacy groups for the cause.

The issue of influx once again comes alive after a historical judgment by the Gauhati High Court. The court observed in one of its verdicts that illegal Bangladeshis, who used to get Indian passports because of callous approach of police and passport authorities, were slowly becoming the 'king makers' in Assam, as many politicians started using them as their traditional vote banks. The landmark judgment of the high court on July 23, also observed that a strong political will to free Assam from illegal Bangladeshis was the need of the hour. The judgment was passed while disposing the petitions of 61 petitioners after they were pronounced as foreigners by the respective Foreigners' Tribunals.

In one Md Kamaluddin's case, the court ruling said that he was in possession of a passport issued by the Pakistan government for his travel to Bangladesh. After coming to Bangladesh, he stealthily came to Assam, stayed back and even filed a nomination during the 1996 Assembly polls. This can happen only in Assam.

It also stated that in due course of time, the Bangladeshis had 'incorporated their names in the voters' lists on the basis of which they must have cast their votes.' Thus the petitioners and such other large number of Bangladeshis present in the State of Assam have a major role in electing the representatives both to the Legislative Assembly and Parliament and consequently, in the decision-making process towards building the nation. They have become the kingmakers, the judgment added.

The day, if phenomenon continues, is not far off, when the indigenous people of Assam, both Hindus and Muslims and other religious groups will be reduced to minorities in their own land and the Bangladeshis who are freely and merrily moving around the fertile land of Assam, will intrude upon the corridors of power, the court ruling warned, adding that neither the Centre nor the state governments can disown their foremost responsibility of defending the borders of the country, prevent any trespass and make the lives of citizens safe and secure.

Meanwhile, the media in Assam start pouring news, editorial and analysis on the issue. The AASU leaders have taken the advantage of the situation to materialize the public anger against the authority for their failure in detecting and deporting the illegal Bangladeshis from the State. Criticising the concerned authority and the governments both at Dispur and New Delhi for their failure to detect and deport the illegal Bangladeshis from Assam, the, the students leaders even appealed the common people not to employ Bangladeshis in any domestic and industrial works.

The initiative of the students body has been supported by various other organisations including Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Assam with political parties like Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party, who also come out with different campaigning against the Bangladeshis illegally taking shelter in various parts of India.

The AASU leaders (President Shankar Prasad Ray, general secretary Tapan Gogoi and adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya) argue that the influx from Bangladesh have already increased the threat to the indigenous communities of the region. Moreover it has emerged as a threat to India's integrity and sovereignty with those infiltrators possessing the capacity to grab political power in Assam in near future. The student activists were also worried that the Jehadi elements might have entered Assam with the help of those Bangladeshis and could place the region at severe risk any time.

They have already announced a series of agitational programmes in support of their demands starting on August 6. The student activists decide to demonstrate in front of the regional passport office at Guwahati on the day, as it was indicated in the court verdict that Bangladeshis managed to get Indian passport from the office with false documents.

The next phase of programme begins from August 10, where they organise public rallies in various parts of the state. It will be followed by another demonstration beginning on the early morning (6 am) of August 14 to the time flag hoisting on August 15 on Independence Day to raise voice against both the governments at Dispur and New Delhi for their failure to implement the Assam Accord effectively. The Accord was signed between the agitating leaders and the central government on August 14, 1984. More public meeting and processions on August 20 and a torchlight rally on August 26 will follow it.

The Assam Tribune, the oldest English daily of Northeast, editorialized the issue saying that the development 'brings to the fore issues that have sinister implications for the security and integrity of not just Assam but the entire country.' It also reveals that 'despite it being an open secret that unabated cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh is fast reducing the indigenous populace of Assam to a minority, the response from the Congress-led State Government as well as the Centre has been one of utter indifference.'