Illegal Migrants issue heating up.

The war of words rising out of the illegal migrants issue between the AASU and the AMSU is heating up by the day and the chances are that this development may push the real issue behind and turn into a political war of words. These organizations should take concrete steps by motivating the people and making them realize the consequences of the exodus of people into our territories from Bangladesh. They should leave aside the religious issues for this is not a religious battle as the Assamese people are a secular lot. This is evident in the peaceful coexistence of all religions here since decades but the continuous influx of Bangladeshis irrespective of their religious bent is causing great danger to the identity of the people of Assam collectively.

The recent influx of suspected Bangladeshi nationals into Assam from the neighboring Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland owing to the clean up drive undertaken by the people, student organization and of course the government of the respective states has turned some of the districts in upper Assam quite volatile, especially, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur. This development has put Assam into a serious situation forcing many organizations like the AASU, Asom Sena, AJYCP etc to protest against such influx. People are concerned about the illegal migrants and are apprehensive that in the near future Assam may turn into a greater Bangladesh and power may be seized from the indigenous people.

Mentionably, two Guwahati residents have filed a public interest litigation (PIL) and have urged the government to take immediate measures to prevent the flow of illegal migrants from Bangladesh to Assam. The Gauhati High Court has asked the Centre to file a report on steps taken to check the influx. Moreover, a division Bench of Chief Justice Jasti Chelameswar and Justice Hareswar Barua asked the Centre to respond to the PIL filed by the residents of Gauhati.

In such a scenario the state government should come forward and issue clear instructions and guidelines to the police and district administration regarding the screening of these migrants and at the same time using force but exercising caution on humanitarian grounds for the safe return of the migrants to their home land. The people of Assam and all organizations should come to an amicable solution instead of further spoiling the situation. Everyone should cooperate with the government in identifying foreigners and deporting them as per the Assam Accord and strictly adhere to the laws put down by the Supreme Court without indulging or giving the issue any communal connotation.