Guwahati: Organisations in Assam termed BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s statement yesterday on Bangladeshi infiltration as part of the party’s plan to “polarise politics” in the state ahead of the 2016 Assembly poll. Suggesting an amendment in the Assam Accord to solve the foreigners issue, Swamy yesterday said here that Muslim migrants from Bangladesh deserved to be accepted as Indian citizens if they embraced Hinduism.
All over Assam Assam Protests over BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s Remark
The Opposition AGP opposed Swamy’s statement saying the BJP leader was unaware of the ground realities in the state while the All Ass-am Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) warned Swamy not to use religion for politics.
“By seeking amendment of the historic Assam Accord, Swamy is trying to complicate the process of solving the long foreigners problem in Assam. At the same time, his statement about giving citizenship to Muslims willing to embrace Hinduism is unconstitutional. Perhaps Swamy is unaware that the Accord is aimed at solving the foreigners issue according to the provisions of law and hence we demand that the state unit of BJP should make their stand clear soon,” AGP spokesperson Satyabrat Kalita said here at the party’s headquarters.
Swamy yesterday said a new clause needed to be inserted into the Assam Accord for punitive measures against Bangladesh for failing to act on the issue. Another AGP leader, Manoj Saikia, said Swamy’s statement seeking amendment of the Accord was an insult to the six-year-long anti-foreigners movement (1979-1985).
AASU, a signatory to the Accord signed on August 15, 1985 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, too rubbished Swamy’s suggestion for amendment. Many AASU leaders who led the movement had later formed the AGP and formed the government.
The Accord had agreed that the names of those foreigners who had infiltrated into Assam on or after March 25, 1971, should be detected and deported according to the law. Chirang district unit of AAMSU today burnt Swamy’s effigy at Bortola to protest against the “communal statement” by the BJP leader. It demanded immediate arrest of Swamy for his attempt to fan communal passions, general secretary of the unit, Abdul Awal Mandal, said.
“All foreigners who entered Assam and settled here after March 25, 1971, must go and Swamy is just playing politics,” AAMSU president Abdur Rahim said.
Social activist Reaz Ahmed has said, " There is no need to protest the views of the controversial BJP leader Subramanian Swami on Assamese Muslim because thousands of our Assamese Hindu brothers are doing that ! Just want to inform S. Swami that it is not Gujarat or Uttar Pradesh , here our only one unified introduction as we are Assamese ."
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