Guwahati, July 4: Prabajan Virodhi Manch (PVM), a forum against illegal immigrants, has questioned Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s claim that “delimitation of constituencies is the only measure to safeguard the identity of indigenous population and prevent them from becoming a minority in the state.”
Addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday, PVM convenor Upamanyu Hazarika said the draft delimitation of constituencies has been touted by the chief minister as a measure to safeguard the identity of the indigenous people of Assam, as the Assam Accord, and consequently, NRC and Clause 6 of the Accord, providing safeguards to the local population from becoming a minority under Bangladeshi influx has proven to be a failure.
“According to the chief minister, delimitation is the only measure to safeguard the identity of the local population. However, this is completely false and without foundation for multiple reasons,” Hazarika, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, said.
“Firstly, delimitation is always on the basis of population and three independent studies demonstrate that Bangladeshi migrants will become a majority in Assam between 2040 and 2051. Delimitation can in no manner be a safeguard as existing constituencies will turn into seats with a Bangladeshi majority,” he claimed.
“Secondly, to assert that the Assam Accord, NRC and Clause 6 safeguards have failed is not only false, but also mischievous. NRC has not failed as yet, though a large number of foreigners have been included in the NRC. However, proper re-verification of NRC will ensure exclusion of such foreigners,” the PVM convenor said.
“The outgoing chief coordinator of NRC has in a detailed report set out the manner in which NRC was subverted and the manner in which re-verification has to be carried out. NRC records are completely digitised and the re-verification will therefore not require a fresh ground exercise,” he said.
“Re-verification of NRC is completely within the powers of the central and state governments as per the Citizenship Act and rules framed thereunder. There is therefore no legal bar to NRC re-verification. Even the assent of the Court is not required as sought to be propagated by the government,” Hazarika said.
He further said that after Sarma became chief minister, one of the first steps he took was to dilute the infiltration issue by saying that it was population explosion and not infiltration, contrary to all studies and facts.
“Under the Land Allotment Policy, Mission Basundhara 2.0 of November 2022, over 14 lakh bighas (5 lakh acres) of grazing land is to be allotted to encroachers who only have to provide proof of encroachment prior to 2011 and the identity proof required is PAN, Aadhaar or driving license, which can be easily procured by any foreigner in Assam, effectively shifting the cut-off date for grant of citizenship from 1971 to 2011,” he said.
“The chief minister has now sought to bury the Assam Accord, NRC and Clause 6 committee report contrary to his own assertions earlier,” he added.
“For the chief minister, to declare Assam Accord as a failure is nothing surprising but in tune, in consonance and consistent with his actions all through. Delimitation is therefore a clear attempt to nullify the Assam Agitation, Assam Accord, Clause 6 and the sacrifices of 855 martyrs of the Assam Agitation,” the PVM convenor said.