Mumbai: Lamenting that the Assam Accord was still on paper, Assam Gana Parishad legislator Alka Sarma on Monday said the violence in Assam should not be seen as a Bodo-Muslim conflict.
The implementation of the Accord could have helped in easing ‘Assamese-versus-foreign nationals’ tension, Sarma said while interacting with the media at the Press Club here.
“The Assam agitation dates back to 1979 against illegal foreign nationals, which culminated in the signing of the Assam Accord. Assamese people had assimilated Bangladeshis who had migrated till 1966. As per the Accord, those Bangladeshis who came between 1966 and 1971 will be barred from voting for ten years,” Sarma said.
The Accord also mentioned that the international borders will be sealed, she said adding however, the clauses are yet to see the light of the day.
Referring to the recent violence, she allegede Assam government was aware that tension was building up but failed to act in time to check it.
“The government is still in denial mode over the presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam,” she said. As per the Foreigners Act, the onus of proving Indian citizenship lies on the person concerned.
However, according to the Illegal Migrant Determination Tribunal (IMDT) invoked in Assam, the onus lies on the complainant, Sarma said.
The IMDT detected 54,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrants but no steps have been taken to deport them.
Similarly, over 80,000 had come with valid documents and withered away. I
n 1985, nearly two lakh people were identified as “D” (doubtful) category voters but still no action has been taken,” she said.
According to Sarma, 27 years after the Accord, the “definition of Assamese” is yet to be worked out.
“There are more than 450 tribal communities in the north east which has 4,500 kms of international border. Border with mainland India is only of 22 km. Hence, north east is very important for safeguarding the sovereignty of the country,” she said.
Sarma said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Rs 300-crore package was “inadequate. The riot victims have to be rehabilitated. The camaraderie and friendship have to return,” she said. The AGP leader said the government should take a policy decision on illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
She said the seriousness of the Assam problem was realised by rest of India only after the Mumbai violence and the exodus of Northeasternersfrom different parts of India.
The AGP leader stressed the need for an extradition treaty with Bangladesh.
Sarma criticised Assam government for granting autonomous councils to different tribes saying it was “a divide-and-rule policy.” (PTI)