[Assam] AGP and Illegal Bangladeshis

[Ram Sarangapani]

There must be something wrong here. The AGP is now advocating for the
welfare of Hindu Bangladeshi illegals (refugees).

Here is a peice from the Sentinel

*A month ahead of polls, AGP does U-turn
AGP linguistic minority cell wants land for B'deshi Hindu immigrants *
GUWAHATI, Mar 3 (IANS): Assam's main Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has
made a dramatic turnaround ahead of assembly elections next month by taking
a pro-Hindu stand on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
The AGP's linguistic minority cell in a statement said all Bangladeshi
Hindus who had infiltrated into the region be treated as 'refugees' and they
be rehabilitated properly by being granted land deeds by the government.
"The condition of the Hindu Bangladeshi refugees settled in Assam is
deplorable and the government should take steps to rehabilitate them
properly and give them land pattas (deeds)," the statement said.
The AGP, formed in 1985, has all along been maintaining that any Bangladeshi
infiltrator who had entered the State after March 25, 1971, be treated as a
foreigner and be deported.
This is the first time the party has taken a radical stand by advocating
refugee status for illegal Bangladeshi Hindu infiltrators. The shift in
stand assumes significance, as most of the present AGP leaders were
signatories to the historic Assam Accord signed in 1985 that made no
religious distinction between Bangladeshi migrants.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the only party that has for long been
advocating refugee status for Bangladeshi Hindus who had entered the State
after the 1971 cut-off date.
The BJP argues that Bangladeshi Hindus fled their country to enter India
following alleged persecution from Muslims and hence should be accorded
refugee status.
The powerful All Assam Students' Union (AASU) is also opposed to
discrimination between Bangladeshi Hindus and Muslims. The AGP's radical
stand had evoked sharp criticism.
"An infiltrator is an infiltrator and the AGP's decision to categorise
Bangladeshi infiltrators on religious lines is nothing but a poll gimmick to
whip up emotions," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said. "By taking such a stand
it is now proved that the AGP and the BJP are two sides of the same coin."
Several senior AGP leaders have been taken aback by the statement and are
trying to put up a brave face. The Election Commission Wednesday announced
April 3 and 10 as the dates for Assembly elections in Assam, which is going
to the polls along with four other States.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.assamnet.org/pipermail/assam-assamnet.org/attachments/20060303/c4d31cc3/attachment.htm>