[Previous entry: "UPDS sees through truce ploy Nagarealm.com"] [Next entry: "Indefinite ceasefire pushes the Indo-Naga peace process into a higher gear?"]

08/04/2007: "NISC asks India to consider humane ideas The Morung Express"

NISC asks India to consider humane ideas The Morung Express

Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): The Naga International Support Center (NISC) today asked the Indian government to consider human rights based ideas which can set an example for an amicable solution to the long drawn Naga political conflicts.
A press statement from the NISC, while welcoming the indefinite ceasefire extension between the GOI and NSCN (IM), questioned whether the Nagas deserved to live under an occupation which has lasted for some 55 years.
In this regard, the NISC invited the Government of India to launch fresh ideas based on human rights. The NISC suggested the Indian government to consider abolishing the Armed Forces Special Powers Acts and other demeaning laws, and to begin withdrawal of its armed security forces so that the military grip on Nagaland is lessened and the Nagas feel free to talk about a mutual future. It further asked India to consider the idea of assisting the Nagas in rebuilding their by this war devastated lands.
While pointing out the essence of the ceasefire between the GoI and NSCN (IM), the NISC said that in the course of the long Naga political problem it has resulted in the death of approximately 250,000 people and it was only because of the ceasefire that the torture, the burning of villages, the rape of women and the executing of people, has been suspended. “So, to the people of Nagaland the ceasefire is important for they live in relative peace”.
However, the NISC questioned whether this is what the Nagas deserve or not. It stated, “But is it what they fought for and the question now is: it is what they deserve; do the Nagas deserve to live under occupation, an occupation which has lasted for some 55 years?”
“That this is the beginning of gradually defusing this long term conflict may be clear for in the past decade of peace talks based on this ceasefire impartial observers cannot but determine that nothing much has been accomplished,” the NISC said.
‘UPA not sincere about peace talks’ Longrangty Longchar The Morung Express
Dimapur National BJP President Rajnath Singh today said that the United Progressive Alliance Government is not sincere in bringing about peace and ending the more than six decades long Naga political problem. Addressing state party workers during the fourth executive meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party at Tourist Lodge here today, Rajnath Singh said that the NDA Government under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, had given an impetus to the peace talks between the Government of India and the Naga underground groups. Rajnath alleged that the UPA government is trying to rule the country on ‘divide and rule’ policy.
“They (the UPA government members) are not sincere for peace and security in Nagaland,” said Rajnath Singh. Rajnath said it was Atal Behari Vajpayee who recognized the uniqueness of Naga history and added that the BJP once it comes to power at the centre will revive the Naga peace talks, give a fresh impetus to it so that a solution can be brought about in the state of Nagaland.
During a press conference after the meeting, Rajnath said the BJP welcomes the indefinite ceasefire extension between the government of India and the NSCN (IM).
The national BJP also said that all factions should be taken into confidence and at the same time appealed to all the concerned political parties and factions of the Naga undergrounds to make good efforts to consolidate peace and development in the state.
Rajnath also said the UPA government should give full attention and offer suitable packages to the Nagas. “At least the Congress led UPA government should follow Atal Behari Vajpayee who was too concerned for the development of Nagaland,” said Rajnath. He said during the time of Vajpayee, the NDA government had given a one term settlement of Rs 350 crores that wiped out the state’s deficits. Vajpayee also gave Rs 1052 crores to Nagaland government in 2003, which, unfortunately, has not been delivered by the UPA government to the Nagas, said Rajnath.
Predicting the next Lok Sabha elections which is scheduled to be held in 2009, Singh also strongly assured that the BJP will form the next central government.
Rajnath also cautioned the Nagas to be careful of the influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into the state, and added that when the BJP comes to power at the Centre, they will take up the issue on priority basis. Rajnath Singh, who arrived in the state on August 3 attended the state BJP meeting and after a press conference at Hotel Saramati, left for Delhi this evening itself.

National BJP President Rajnath Singh arriving at Tourist Lodge, Dimapur to attend the fourth executive meeting of the Nagaland BJP at Dimapur on August 4. (MExPix)
Our mission? Prosperous Nagaland: Rajnath
National BJP President Rajnath Singh today said that politics for the BJP is not a profession but a mission and that their mission is to make a great India and also a great and prosperous Nagaland.
Addressing BJP workers from Nagaland during the fourth state BJP executive meeting here at Dimapur, the national BJP President said that BJP is a party with a difference, the only political which is different from other political parties. “Politics is not a profession for us, but politics is our mission,” said Rajnath.
He said that politics, for the BJP, is a mission to make India great, make Nagaland great and make a prosperous Nagaland. He said that among the three big national political parties-Congress party, the Left and the BJP, there has not been a single division in the BJP so far.
“The BJP is the more disciplined party and we are proud that we are members of such a party,” said Rajnath. Speaking about the BJP’s prospect in the forthcoming state election, Rajnath said he expects the people’s response towards the BJP to be more than that of the last elections in 2003. Rajnath hoped fifteen to twenty BJP MLAs to come out successful in the next state elections. He also expressed his happiness that the BJP Ministers are being commented by the people for their works.
About the present DAN Coalition Government, Rajnath said the State Chief Minister had met him and discussed matter with him. Rajnath said that the BJP is fully committed to the present DAN alliance which is based on mutual understanding. About the challenges to be faced in the next election, Rajnath exhorted his fellow party workers from the state that the BJP cannot beat the Congress party through money power; however he said that the national party is ready to assist the Nagaland BJP for the election process.
Rajnath said the BJP is ready to provide money and other assistance that will be needed during election time. “We are ready to provide all sort of assistance,” said Rajnath. however, he said that the assistance might not necessarily be 100 percent but still ‘up to fifty percent’ assistance will be extended. The BJP president further encouraged the state BJP members to work hard for the coming elections. He further strongly asserted that no government will be formed without the help of the BJP.
Beyond Ceasefire Editorial Morung Express
The extension of ceasefire between the Government of India (GoI) and NSCN (IM) was always on the cards as this was also the overwhelming desire of the people. While it will always remain questionable as to whether Delhi deserved such an extension given its insincerity for the last ten years since the ceasefire was first signed, the use of the term ‘indefinite’ extension is something new giving the peace process a fresh dimension. No one except those directly involved in the talks will be able to tell or understand precisely the agreed terms of such an ‘indefinite’ extension. If the wording of the joint statement is any indication, it could be that instead of the ceasefire determining the peace talks as was the case till now, it’s the other way round i.e. the indefinite extension has been signed under the condition or ‘subject to progress’ in the talks. Hopefully, as was suggested in this column, both sides would have put in place “a qualitatively better ceasefire” than the one that ruled the roost for ten long uneventful years.
If the logic behind this ‘indefinite’ extension is critically analyzed, the Indo-Naga peace process will either move forward at a much quicker pace or it will meet its slow and painful natural death. What all this entails is that there is now a higher premium being paid on the peace process, which is good news. While this will mean higher returns in terms of payoffs, all this also comes with a higher level of risk involved. It will be like investing in the highly volatile stock market with either big losses or huge gains being made. In economic parlance, the peace process appears to be moving from low risk low return to a level entailing higher returns and also greater risk. All this will also mean greater level of understanding each other’s needs and working for win-win situations. In terms of effectiveness, this latest indefinite extension is a much better option as it will give an inbuilt momentum to the peace process which was clearly lacking for ten years. It may be mentioned here that on the day of the talks on July 31, an editorial in this column had also mentioned the need for the NSCN (IM) “to impart a sense of urgency to the endless of talks” and calling for “a more meaningful ceasefire and insisting on a result oriented mechanism to keep the process both relevant and time bound”. This appears to have been achieved on paper at least. The real achievement for both the Government of India and the Naga side will come only when it produces concrete results based on a give and take approach.
NSF puts foot down on SSA dirt The Morung Express
Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): An unhappy Naga Students’ Federation today issued a strong caution to the state government that an own course of action from the Federation would be inevitable if corruption and malpractices in the SSA department are not done away with. The Federation has made clear to the State Government that there shall be no compromise on the matter of corruption and nepotism in the department of School Education. The NSF drew irony that a department such as the School Education is expected to be a backbone for the society and a disciplined entity, leave alone corruption.
“The Federation has come to learn the seriousness of the shameful malpractices that has deeply infested the administrative system of School Education (in) SSA. The Federation in particular and the public in general is indignant with the rampant prevalence of malpractices within the SSA projects” stated the Federation through its education secretary Ahito Achumi. The lackadaisical attitude of the concern authority in tackling the malpractices being unearthed “must be washed off” the Federation demanded.
The NSF also made mention that a memorandum was forwarded to the Governor of Nagaland to address the reports of corruption in the implementation of the SSA projects in the state. In the memorandum was demanded a state high-level independent enquiry to look into the appointments and implementation of civil works in Nagaland, with special reference to Changtongya sub-division, Mokokchung. The enquiry body was demanded to be set up within 30 days, while the erring officials be suspended till the time the enquiry accomplished its purpose, the NSF reiterated.
“However, the government of Nagaland has failed to respond to the demand made by the Federation within the stipulated deadline” the NSF lamented. In this regard the NSF has warned that if the government remains indifferent, an own course of action would be taken up to root out the corruption prevailing in the department.
NSF withdraws from NESO membership
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has withdrawn its membership from the North East Students’ Organization (NESO). The development follows what NSF leaders said are “students’ politics” in the NESO. NSF president Imchatoba Imchen informed that although the decision is yet to be formally set, the decision has been taken. Giving the reasons for withdrawing the membership, he said that the NESO had rejected two NSF representatives to the NESO executive. Further, it was alleged that the current NSF representatives in the NESO, general secretary NSN Lotha and advisor Artax Shimray, ‘don’t want to give chance to others’ and are refusing to step down. The NSF is said to have recommended former NSF chief Phushika Aomi and a general secretary from the last tenure. However the two were rejected on grounds that only one was permitted according to the NESO’s constitution. When contacted, NESO general secretary NSN Lotha said that the two NSF representatives could not be accommodated since the NESO had regulations that only one representative from a body can be nominated. He also refuted the charge of being against “giving chance to others.” “I am already out of NESO; I have stepped down” he said. Lotha said he has already stepped down as general secretary and has even made public that he will be joining politics soon and would be contesting in the forthcoming state general elections. Meanwhile conflicting reports continued over the matter even as this report was being filed. President Imchotoba said that NSN Lotha has asked to be nominated again as representative to the NESO.
No transparency, no support: FGN speaks on ceasefire The Morung Express
Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): The FGN has made clear that the GBs and the DBs should be transparent and free of manipulation. Falling short of these “requirements” the FGN would not cooperate, a note from “dy. secretary” LK Pishen stated in reference to the ceasefire brokered by the joint forum. The FGN stated that it cannot accept any redrafted resolution other than the original draft. This tends to suggest manipulations by forces like the NSCN-IM which is not acceptable, the FGN explained.
‘Some of the students’ bodies and Hohos in the NGOs forum were established mouthpiece of the NSCN (IM) shouting for integration and greater ‘Nagalim’ under India” the FGN observed. When all these NGOS, ceasefire monitoring cell and state government are mixed in the mission of GBs-DBs, the FGN cannot have confidence in such a forum, it asserted adding that such components would amount to be doing so at the behest of the NSCN-IM. “It is not acceptable to the FGN for there is no purpose to have anything to do with these people when the FGN is upholding and defending Naga sovereignty” the FGN made clear. It is expected that the joint forum would work independently and pave ways to bring about the much-cherished peace to the people, it stated adding the five-point resolutions were accepted in good faith by the FGN/NNC.
FGN ‘regrets’ murder and torture incident The Morung Express
Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): The FGN has expressed “regret” that FGN cadres I the Sumi region had murdered one Nishena and tortured one Vikha Kiba at Yoruba village on May 21. While expressing regret, a note from the FGN stated that the matter requires “further investigation and justification.” It also admitted that the wanton harassment of travelers on the highways is another reason which further hurt the sentiments and earned the ire of the Sumi society.
A note from Zaleo, Killo Kilonser, in response to Sumi civil society, informed that the FGN’s kilo “ministry” had in March 2007 served a directive that activities of region or brigades “had to be carried out in its own territory.” The FGN however stated that due to the “activities” of some cadres, the relationship between the people and the organization must not be jeopardized. The FGN assured to take what it claimed as “constitutional and legal actions” on any of the errant cadres. “o body is above law and no cadre of the FGN can exercise arbitrary power” it asserted.
Responds to NSCN-IM
The FGN states that it is committed to upholding and “defend the sovereignty of Nagaland” while the NSCN-IM is only demanding and fighting for a greater Nagalim to have a federal relationship with India. This was stated in a note from “dy. secretary” LK Pishen in response to an earlier statement from the NSCN-IM.
“The NSCN-IM is the one which deviated from the main course of the Naga national stream; using the Shillong Accord of 1975 as the main justification, they killing our own people for the past 27 years since 1980”the FGN stated charging an NSCN (IM)-Transit peace camper nexus. The FGN queried what the difference is between the Shillong Accord “where the accordist accepted the constitution of India and the NSCN (IM) demand for greater Nagalim to have a federal relationship with India.”
The FGN informed the NSCN-IM that “there is only one NNC/FGN” and “Shillong Accord Transit Peace Campers are rehabilitated people by India.”
NSCN-K reacts to defectors’ statements The Morung Express
Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): The NSCN-K Lotha region has reacted to the statements of some of its former functionaries who have now joined the NSCN-IM. A note from the Lotha regions queried how former NSCN-K functionaries Joseph Patton and Chichamo Tsanglao can condemn the organization and its leaders. “If they had in mind that NSCN is bad, they should not have joined it and betrayed their once fellow workers” stated “Maj.” Opon Lotha in a note.Since the “Keeya (Defense) ministry” is in the hands of the NSCN-K leadership and “by democratic convention,” the note asserted, the “president” is the “supreme commander” of the “Armed forces.” This was why the “government” was obliged to issue summons to the two before the council to explain the circumstance one “Lt” Mhabemo was eliminated. “But because of your guilty (conscience) you fled to the terrorists’ camp with government’s money and arms and ammunitions. As such the murder case in respect of late Mhabemo will remain your individual case between you and the families of the martyr and the GPRN” the note stated. The two will also be asked to pay the money and for the arms, it added.
Illegal immigration in NE IndiaJanajati Vikas Samiti Nagalan A threat to socio-cultural identity of the people and a danger to sovereignty of nation
It is political irony of post partition Bharatvarsh that none of its Governments ever took the problem of large scale of Muslim infiltration from erstwhile East Pakistan which is now Bangladesh to bordering Bharatvarsh states particularly Assam seriously. Nehru Liaqat Pact (1950) Indira- Mujib Accord (1971) and much published Assam Accord (1985) too failed to stop this ‘silent invasion’. In the absence of any definite policy of the Government, the infiltration gradually assumed an alarming proportion and the aliens became politically so strong that no political party in this state is in a position to form the government without their support.
British annexed undivided Assam in 1826 and placed it under the administrative unit of Bengal Province. They brought educated and English knowing Bengalis to assist them in its administration. After partition of Bengal in 1905 the geo-political reconstitution of the region increased the flow of Bengali speaking population particularly the Muslim peasantry from the over populated East Bengal to sparsely populated fertile lands of Brahmaputra and Surma valleys of this isolated northeast corner of Bharatvarsh. The formation of All India Muslim League (AIML) in 1906 at Dhaka also hatched a political conspiracy to expand its numerical strength in Assam and initiated organized migration of Muslims from East Bengal. Nawab Salim Ullah Khan – a prominent Muslim leader and one of the founder members of AIML in his public meeting after the concluding session of the League, “exhorted the Muslims to migrate to Assam and settle there”.
The alarming forecast of Census Superintendent C.S. Mullan in his Census report of 1931 validated the political conspiracy of AIML in Assam :
“Probably the most important event in the province during the last 25 years – an event, moreover, which seems likely to alter permanently the whole feature of Assam and to destroy the whole structure of Assamese culture and civilization, has been the invasion of a vast horde of land-hungry immigrants mostly Muslims, from the districts of East Bengal…..wheresover the carcass, there the vultures will be gathered together,” (Politics of Migration by Dr. Manju Singh, Anita Publications, Jaipur, Page. 59).
By late nineteen thirties, the AIML turned its expansionist design into a confrontationist Muslim politics in Assam. It encouraged the Muslim migrants to settle in Assam and since then the immigrants have become a chronic in the provincial politics of the state. Influx of Muslim peasantry in Assam converted its wastelands into cultivable fields and helped in development of its economy. But exposure of this otherwise closed society to new socio-political environment adversely affected its socio-cultural scenario.
After 1937 election, Gopi Nath Bordoloi headed a Congress led coalition Government in Assam and tried to stop the unhindered flow of immigrant Muslims. But his Government had to resign in November 1939 to respond to the Congress High Command’s call for resignation of all its Provincial Governments in protest against the War policy of the British. This decision of the party however facilitated the formation of an alternative Coalition Government in Assam headed by Sir Saadullah of AIML. “During the period between 1939-1941, Saadullah Government allotted one Lakh bighas (one bigha is little less than an acre) of land in Assam valley for the settlement of East Bengal immigrants” (Political History of Assam-Edited by A.C. Bhuyan and Shibopada De, Vol. III, Publication Board of Assam, 1999, Page 262). He ignored the protest of Assam Congress leaders like Bishnuram Medhi and others on the plea that the Muslim exodus from Bengal to Assam was necessary for the success of ‘grow more food’ scheme in the state.
Lord, Wavel, Viceroy of Bharatvarsh in the Viceroy’s Journal, London Publication, December 22, 1943 said:” … The chief political problem in the desire of Muslim Ministers of Assam to increase the immigrations into uncultivated Government lands in Assam under the slogan of ‘grow more food’ but what really is to ‘grow more Muslims’ (Politics of Migration by Dr. Manju Singh, Anita Publication, Jaipur, 1990, Page 70). Mahatma Gandhi too expressed his concern over the exodus for the reason best known to him. The resignation of Congress led Government in Assam was the first blunder committed by the party in respect of its policy on Muslim immigration. Even Subash Chandra Bose and the Congress leaders of Assam had argued for exemption of Assam from the decision of the party on the plea that it would help the AIML in settling the Muslim immigrants in the state. The Congress High Command was, however, not convinced.
With large-scale settlement of alien immigrants following the installation of Saadullah Government, AIML established a tremendous influence on the Muslim population of Assam, who later aggressively supported the demand for Pakistan. After 1946 general election Bordoloi again headed the Congress Government and took a firm and tough stand for eviction of immigrants. Alarmed with the eviction plan of Bordoloi, AIML Legislators’ Convention held at Delhi in April 1946, demanded inclusion of Assam in Pakistan and strongly opposed the eviction plan of immigrant Muslims. Abdul Hamid Khan, popularly known as Maulana Bhasani, a volatile League leader, who had dominated Muslim politics in Assam till partition was deputed to execute the “AIML plan to turn the non-Muslim majority state of Assam into Muslim majority state”. Meanwhile Jinnah came up with the demand of the League for inclusion of Assam in proposed Pakistan. The central leadership of the Congress party had virtually made up its mind to give up its claim over Assam and Bordoloi had to run from pillar to post and convince Mahatma Gandhi whose intervention could only save Assam from going to Pakistan. Since whole energy of Bordoloi was to save Assam from the geo-political design of AIML, he failed to give proper attention to implement his plan to cleanse Assam from Muslim immigrants. Assamese people for their centuries old closeness with cultural current of Bharatvarsh had fought shoulder to shoulder with the freedom fighters of the country against the British power, but the attitude of the Congress High Command created an emotional distance from the centre.
After partition, the Assamese people expected that there would not be any further trans-migration of Muslims from East Pakistan to their new political territory, Muslim populations in Assam considerably decreased in 1947 partly due to inclusion of Sylhet in Pakistan and also return of sizeable number of earlier immigrants to their original land due to fear of backlash. But the situation changed, when Mainul Haq Chaudhary, the Private Secretary of Jinnah and also a prominent leader of the youth wing of AIML till partition joined Congress party along with the supporters of Pakistan en-mass. On the eve of partition he was shaky whether to opt for Pakistan or stay back in Bharatvarsh. He was however told by Jinnah, “wait for ten years, I shall present Assam on a silver plate to you” (Politics of Alienation in Assam by Bhawani Singh, 1984, Page 72). Jinnah died in 1948 but the Congress Party fulfilled his promise by inducting Chaudhary in the Cabinet of Congress Government led by Gopi Nath Bordoloi. It is often alleged that Chaudhary stayed back in Assam on the advice of Jinnah and other Pakistani leaders to help the immigrants from Pakistan for their settlement in Assam.
After, Independence, the flow of illegal migration from East Pakistan again increased aggressively as in absence of any population planning by its government or any social movement for creating awareness to control population, its people remained facing the problem of living space for survival. To carry forward the political legacy of AIML that East Pakistan / Bangladesh needed more lebensraum or living space, its leaders continued their plan for Islamic expansionism in Assam through infiltration of Muslims as the country was unable to shoulder the burden of its multiplying population. The successive governments in Pakistan pursed the twin policy of squeezing out the Hindus and infiltrating the Muslims to settle down in Assam and other bordering states in Bharatvarsh.
Against the evil geo-political design of Pakistan, which scared the Assamese middle class of the threat to their marginalization in their own land, Government of Bharatvarsh never had any organized plan or definite policy. Nehru-Liaquat Pact (April 1950) with “special provisions for restoration of rights of immigrants over the properties if they would choose to return not later than the 31st December 1950” rather facilitated the Pakistan Government to accelerate infiltration (Assam Issue-The Beginning-The End-The Beginning by Vijay Kumar Dewan, United Publishers Guwahati, 1985, Page 34-35). The Pact, which validated the entry of immigrants up to 31.12.1950, was against the spirit of Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act 1950 enacted by Parliament on 13.2.1950. It is said that the Congress leadership applauded the increase of Muslim immigrants as a God sent opportunity to consolidate the ‘Muslim vote banks’ and accordingly ruled Assam without any break for thirty years.
In early sixties, the Government of Assam under the leadership of Congress Chief Minister Bimala Prasad Chaliha launched an aggressive campaign to flush out the immigrants who settled in Assam since January 1951. He even disregarded Prime Minister Nehru’s plea to go slow on the issue. “Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wanted the Assam Chief Minister, Bimala Prasad Chaliha to go easy on deportations and even stop them. Chaliha refused, saying that the problem was so critical that Assam’s demography and culture would be permanently changed” (Rites of Passage by Sanjoy Hazarika, Penguin Books, 2000, Page 60).
Chaliha Government armed itself with Prevention of Infiltration from Pakistan (PIP) Act 1964 and pursed the campaign. Even though, the Muslim leaders encouraged the Bengali speaking Muslim immigrants to declare Assamese as their mother tongue to dodge the police of their detection, Chaliha’s campaign against the infiltrations pressed a panic button among them. However, twenty Muslim MLAs in the Government threatened him to topple his ministry if he does not stop deportations. Chaliha had to succumb to this pressure and the PIP Act 1964 was put in cold storage (Ibid). Those who were deported earlier gradually returned and again settled in Assam.
As per conservative assessment, about a million of Muslim infiltrators settled down in the vacant areas contiguous to the areas where Muslim migrants in British Bharatvarsh were already settled. Moinul Huq Choudhury, who later became a Minister in the Union Cabinet of Indira Gandhi Government and former President of Bharatvarsh Fakaruddin Ali Almad were widely known for being instrumental in the settlement of illegal Muslim immigrants. Gradually, the Muslim population in Assam, which was about 19 Lakhs in 1947, increased to about 36 Lakhs within 25 years in Independence by 1972. “Late B.K. Nehru, the Governor of Assam between 1968 and 1973, condemned the infiltration as vote bank politics by the Congress” (Prafulla Goradia in Pioneer dated September 15, 2005). “Over the years, the Congress with its activist pro-minority plank was seen as a party which supported the interest of the settlers. It was thus labeled pro-‘Bangladesh’ by its opponents” (Rites of Passage by Sanjiy Hazarika, Penguin Books, 2000), Page 69).
In 1971 Bangladesh emerged as a sovereign nation after liberation war against Pakistan with the help of Bharatiya Army. Instead of being grateful, the new nation maintained the same policy of Pakistan on Muslim infiltration in Assam. People of Bharatvarsh in general and Assam in particular failed to understand that when the changed geo-political reality of Bharatiya sub-continent in 1947 sealed their political destiny with the respective country of Bharatvarsh and Pakistan, how come the infiltration continues? The argument of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh that, “without the inclusion of Assam the East Bengal economy could not be balanced” is ridiculous as a sovereign nation cannot throw its burden on another countries. If he was unable to bear the responsibility of his own people, he should not have gone for liberation of Bangladesh. Such an attitude of Sheikh Mujib proved that he also carried forward the AIML legacy of Muslim expansion in Assam. He was an equal partner in implementation of the geo-political design of Pakistan to destabilize Assam and balkanize it on the basis of religion. Z. A Bhutto has spelt out this design as far back as in 1968. “The late Prime Minister of Pakistan, Z.A. Bhutto, wrote about the geo-political aims of Pakistan in 1968 in his book. The Myth of Independence where he elaborated that it would be wrong to think that Kashmir is the only dispute that divides Bharatvarsh and Pakistan, though it is undoubtedly the most significant one immediately next to it nearly as important, as the Kashmir dispute is that of ASSAM and some districts adjacent to East Pakistan” (Insurgency in North-East-Bharatvarsh-The Role of Bangladesh, Edited by Dipankar Sengupta and Sudhir Kumar Singh, Authors Press, 2004, Page 73-74).
Even after liberation, a huge number of Bangladeshi Muslims stayed back in Assam and helped their co-religionists in influencing the electoral politics of this state. They not only further increased the demographic imbalance in the state but also scared the Assamese middle class of the danger to their socio-cultural identity. One may like to recall that it was a shocking revelation of detection of thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims in the revision of electoral rolls in Mangaldoi Parliamentary constituency in 1979 which sparked the Assam agitation led by All Assam Students Union (AASU) against the Bangladeshi infiltrators.
When the Assam agitation reached to its climax and turned violent, two separate delegations one of legislators (16) led by Janata Party leader Golap Barbora and another of writers (4) led by Dr. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya emphatically narrated the alarming problem of illegal Muslim immigration in Assam in their respective memorandum to the Rajya Sabha Committee of Petitions. Seventy-third Report of the Committee of Petitions, Rajya Sabha dated March 22, 1982 while quoting the memorandum said : “The official statistics showed that a total of 2,20,690 Pakistani infiltrators were detected in the state during the period 1950-1961 and another 1,92,339 were spotted in the following decade. During the Bangladesh War of Liberation (1971) a total of 1,00,000 immigrants stayed behind even after Independence of their country…. The prime factor responsible for this abnormal growth (of Muslims) was the geo-political ambition of Pakistan over Assam” (Page 2 of the Report).
The Report quoting the memorandum of Legislators led by Golap Barbora maintained:
“No sovereign nation can permit the influx of foreign nationals into its territory. But the North Eastern region of the country in general and Assam in particular have been experiencing the area being utilized as the dumping ground for a large numbers of foreigners being vomited out by a neighbouring country since a long time. Besides, a large number of such foreigners were appeased with political rights by entering their names in the voters’ list of the state for petty political games at the instance of the vested political forces that were at the helm of affairs since Independence” (Ibid).
The Report quoting the memorandum signed by the writers of Assam said : “That the problem of infiltration of foreigners in large scale has reached such a stage that unless immediate drastic steps were taken to solve it, the state of Assam and for that matter, the entire North Eastern Region, faces the danger of being over run by foreigners in the next few years”. The memorandum also quoted the written address of the Chief Election Commissioner to the Chief Election Officers Conference at Ootacamund on 24th September 1978. He said : “I would like to refer to the alarming situation in some states, specially in the North Eastern region, wherefrom disturbing reports are coming regarding large scale inclusion of foreign nationals in the electoral rolls”. Referring to Assam the Chief Election Commissioner further said : “The influx has become a very regular feature. I think that it may not be wrong assessment to make that on the basis of increase of 34.98 percent between the two Census (1961-1971), the increase that is likely to be recorded in the 1991 Census would be more than 100 percent over the 1961 Census….. Another disturbing factor in this regard is the demand made by the political parties for the inclusion in the electoral rolls of the names of such migrants who are not Bharatiya citizens” (Ibid. Page 18-19).
Replying to the debate in Rajya Sabha, the Home Ministry maintained that “the Government is fully seized of the matter. Efforts towards finding a solution satisfactory to all concerned are continuing” (Ibid. Page 25)
During negotiation with the agitating AASU leaders, the Government wanted 1971 as cut-off year for treating the immigrants as foreigners which meant that all the alien infiltrators who settled in Assam between 1951 and 1971 were to be accorded Indian citizenship. However, the negotiation broke down as AASU insisted on January 1951 as cut-off year. One fails to understand that why Government of Bharatvarsh did not take a tough stand on the cut-off year for the citizenship on the basis of the National Register of 1951? Since infiltrators were the foreigners they would not have given the citizenship of the country. Justice M.C. Chagla, former Education Minister once said, “We have our constitution, we have citizenship laws. There are decisions by the highest courts to indicate who is a national and who is a foreigner. What does it matter when a person comes to Assam if he is not a national but a foreigner. The year of his entry does not change his legal status. Unnecessary complications have been introduced by talking of the cut-off year” (‘Assam’s Agony by Amiya Kumar Das, Lancer’s Publication Delhi, 1982, Page 132). Such logic of an eminent personality had no meaning in the vote bank politics of the country.
When the movement picked up momentum, the Congress Government at centre led by Indira Gandhi pushed legislation in Parliament in 1983 called Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal (IMDT) Act. Tribunal was set up in each district of Assam to decide upon the presence of illegal migrants. Under IMDT Act onus lied on prosecution to prove before the tribunal that the suspect was foreigner. This was against the provision of the Foreigners Act under which suspect was to prove his or her Bharatiya citizenship. This lacuna in the new Act hardly brought any desired result. Ironically, AASU leaders never raised this point assertively and after repeated negotiations signed Assam Accord in the early hour of August 15, 1985. Violating all the constitutional provisions, the Accord accepted the infiltrators between 1951 to 1971 as genuine citizens of the country. The Accord maintained 1971 as cut-off year for detection, deletion from voters’ list and deportation.
Assamese people, who were tired of long agitation from 1976 to 1985 celebrated the Accord. The power hungry AASU leaders while taking it as their first political victory formed a political organization namely Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and contested subsequent Assembly election held by the end of 1985. As expected, they got a landslide victory and formed Government. Soon after forming the Government, they fell into the trap of vested interests and the problem of infiltration went to the back burner. Meanwhile, ULFA-an offshoot of AASU/AGP raised armed rebellion against Government for cessation of Assam from Bharatvarsh.
The people belonging to Bengali descent apprehended a danger to their deportation following the Assam Accord but thanks to Muslim lobby, the process of detection, deletion and deportation remained as slow as it was before the Accord. One may laugh to know that “between 1983 to 2000, the sixteen tribunals in various districts…..have located about 10,000 illegals (immigrants) of which a bare 1,400 have been deported” (Rites of Passage by Sanjoy Hazarika, Penguin Books, 2000, Page 70).
Ironically, even after the alarming report on the ‘demographic invasion’ by Bangladesh by the Governor of Assam in 1998 the problem of Muslims infiltrators remained as acute in Assam as ever. Report on ‘Illegal Migration into Assam as submitted to the President of Bharatvarsh by the Governor, Lt. Gen (Retd.) S.K. Sinha in 1998” warned that if the present trends are not arrested, the indigenous people of Assam would be reduced to a minority and there may, in course of time, be a demand for the merger of Muslim dominated bordering districts with Bangladesh “(Insurgency in North East Bharatvarsh : the role of Bangladesh – Dipankar Sengupta, Suhir Kumar Singh Author Press Delhi 2004, page 73). Governor’s report, which called the infiltration a “national threat” and the report worked out by Group of Ministers, headed by Union of Home Minister in 2001 noted that more than 15 million immigrants have entered Bharatvarsh over the last five decades from Bangladesh, an intrusion that has completely changed the demography of large part of Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Tripura and Bihar. (Ibid). Now, this Muslim migration is alarming in Nagaland and as per rough estimate more than a lakh muslims have penetrated in the tiny state of Nagaland working as traders, labourers, riksha-pullers, auto/taxi drivers and domestic servants in Naga houses. Same is the case of Manipur, Mizoram and other states of this region.
“The 1991 Census shows that the Muslim population of the country increased by 4.02 million or 65.4 per cent over that of 1971 in Assam the increase has been by 77.42 percent. Muslims now form a majority in the district of Dhubri (70.42%). Goalpara (50.18%). Barpeta (56.07%) and Hailankandi (55.18%)” (Insurgency in North-East Bharatvarsh – The Role of Bangladesh, Edited by Dipankar Sengupta and Sudhir Kumar Singh, Authors Press, 204, Page 51). In addition to these four Muslim majority districts other five districts namely Bangaigaon (32.74%), Morigaon (45.31%), Nagaon (47.19%), Karimganj (49.17%) and Cachar (34.49%) are having Muslim population varying between 32.74% to 49.71% ) and Cachar (34.49%) are having Muslim population varying between 32.74 percent to 49.17%. An independent analysis that was conducted showed that there has been a sizeable growth in population among Muslims in Assam. It records that as a community, the Muslims had registered an increase of 16.17% growth in 2001 figures, (Terror Sans Frontier : Islamic Militancy in North Bharatvarsh by Jaideep Saikia, Ford Fellow, July 2003, page 17).
“According to a study conducted by a few scholars of Toronto University and the American Academy of Arts and Science, 15 Million Bangaldeshi nationals have infiltrated in Bharatvarsh. According to another study done by another American organization, namely, The Advancement of Science, 20 million Bangladesh nationals are presently staying in Bharatvarsh” (The Silent Invasion by Hiranya Kumar Bhattacharya, Spectrum Publications, Guwahati : Delhi, 2001, Page 83). Muslim infiltration form Bangladesh into Bharatvarsh is somewhere between 10 millions to 20 millions (Pioneer dated 22.9.2004 by S. Gurumurthy, a widely known economists). Despite these observations of infiltration, Bangladesh never accepted the illegal migration of its people and often blamed Bharatvarsh for deliberately pushing out its principal religious minority to their territory. Infiltration being one of the reasons behind the troubled relation between the two countries but Bangladesh in assistance with Pakistan continues fighting against Bharatvarsh for Islamic expansionism. As a result Assam has become its first victim. The political leadership as well as the officials who govern the country are fully aware of this hard reality of infiltration but ironically they close their eyes due to the expediency of the vote bank politics. In absence of any accountability they overlooked the problem of undocumented illegal immigrants settled on Bharatiya soil and threw the Assamese in the cesspool of Muslim vote bank politics. The politicians and officials in other satellite states are equally unconcerned causing doom to native population. In Nagaland the political candidates are seen bringing Muslims in trucks and mini buses from Khatkati and other adjacents areas to vote for them illegally in elections. In return this politicians provide patronage to these Muslim migrants and allow them to have conjugal relation with Naga girls.
“The Assam Police claimed to have arrested four hardcore ISI functionaries arrested by Assam Police on August 7, 1999. It was disclosed by them that “ISI had plans to train 10000 people in Assam for Jihad to liberate Assam and establish an Islamic country comprising the territory of the state and some other parts of North-Eastern Bharatvarsh” (Insurgency in North-East Bharatvarsh – The Role of Bangladesh, Edited by Dipankar Sengupta and Sudhir Kumar Singh, Authors Press, 2004 Page 74).
One may wonder how the Muslim population of Assam from 19,81,857 in 1951 increased to 63,73,204 in 1991. Census figure suggests over 30 percent growth in Muslim population of Assam after 1951. Taking into account the pace of growth rate between 1951 to 1991 the Muslim population in Assam might have increased to at least 33 percent by 2005. It means the present Muslim population in the State might have increased to another 3 percent. On the other hand, Hindu population in the State decreased from 72.51 percent in 1971 to 67.13 percent in 1991. It means the decrease rate of about 5 percent in 20 years. If the trends are allowed to continue a day will come when indigenous people of State may come under Islamic subjugation and would ultimately be forced to face a serious threat to their identity as happened in the case of Kashmir (Terror Sans Frontier : Islamic Militancy in North Bharatvarsh by Jaideep Saikia, Ford Fellow, July 2003).
After 22 years of the enactment of IMDT Act 1983 the Supreme Court repealed it in July 2005. The Muslim leaders, who are not happy with the verdict of the highest court in the country already started their arm twisting approach to ensure that the ruling party at centre could bring another legislation or ordinance for a substitute of IMDT Act. Badaruddin Azmal, President Jamaiat – Ulema-e-Hind, Assam expressed his anguish against the Congress for its failure to defend the IMDT Act. He was also exploring the possibility of mobilizing the various Muslim organization to bring them under a political party for contesting 2006 Assembly elections. As per the plan, he has formed All United Democratic Front (AUDF). He has won the Assembly election of 2006 alongwith nine other Muslim MLAs of AUDF. Thus there are 24 Muslim MLAs in Assam Assembly of 126 MLAs out of 24 MLAs the four are holding the charge of Ministries Muslims now constitute over 30 percent of about 26 million population of Assam. They are now at the centre stage of Assam politics due to their commanding influence in about 40 of the total 126 Assembly constituencies. Sensing the mood of the Muslim leaders all the political parties were hobnobbing with Muslim leaders for electoral alliance with them for last years Assembly election in the state. It is an irony of fate that even AGP and its splinter group AGP (Progressive), whose leaders had led a high voltage agitation against the immigrants are also speaking the same language to appease the Muslim leaders for their support in election as other political parties have been doing since Independence.
The higher growth of Muslim population in Assam due to unrestricted infiltration for consolidating the Muslim vote is a threat to its socio-cultural identity. It is one of the major sources of bitterness and tension in the region. Now the political clout of Muslim leaders is so strong that no political party is in a position to take a tough stand against the illegal immigrants in this state. But it is ridiculous that United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), an offshoot of AASU, which fought for detection, deletion (from voters’ list) and deportation of these foreigners – demands cessation of Assam from Bharatvarsh with the support of same Bangladesh and Pakistan against whom they had launched agitation. Due to lack of vision they do not understand the design of the communal politics of the Muslims of Assam and neighbouring Bangladesh. They must know that once Assam is ceded from Bharatvarsh the Muslim militants will throw away the Hindus and Christians in Assam as they did in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Their condition will be same as of the Kashmiri Hindus. They must take a lesson from the political vision of the former leaders of Assam like Gopi Nath Bordoloi, Bisnu Ram Medhi and B.P. Chaliha who even at the cost of humiliation by the Congress High Command never thought of secession and pursued their political fight against infiltration to the best of their capacity.
The Muslim infiltration has percolated down in a mini-state like Nagaland upto village level. After occupying the labour sector and business sector in towns, these Bangladeshi Muslims have penetrated deep into interior and inaccessible villages and married Naga girls creating a hybrid race now being classified as Semia in case of Sema mothers and Muslim fathers, Angamia, Aomia and Zeliangmia etc in case of Angami, Ao and Zeliang mothers and Muslim fathers and Nagamia in general when the father is a Muslim and mother a Naga. Same is the case with other satellite states orbiting Asom.This seminar is a sincere attempt to focus on the gravity of the problem and suggest the probable solution. A case study with regard to particular state or particular zone or particular community is expected with probable solution to meet this challenge from the scholars in their seminar papers.
Gogoi has no hold on army- ‘It often oversteps limit’ OUR CORRESPONDENT


Tarun Gogoi
Dibrugarh, Aug. 3: If organisations railing against army excesses in Assam needed someone to endorse their claims, they must have least expected the head of the Unified Command for counter-insurgency operations to be the one.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who took over as head of the three-tier arrangement from the chief secretary last year, has been quoted as saying that “the army often oversteps its limits, has its own rules for operations and does not take policemen along during operations, which we always insist on”.
He is said to have made the remark while trying to pacify a delegation that met him in Dibrugarh yesterday to demand justice for the victims of alleged army excesses at Lezai Baruahgaon. The Rastra Nirjatan Birodhi Oikya Mancha, a conglomerate of 32 organisations, said today that Gogoi’s admission of the truth about army operations was scary rather than comforting.
“These type of comments from the chief minister, who himself heads the Unified Command structure, indicates that in this era of terror unleashed by security forces in the name of counter-insurgency operations, he is perhaps the most helpless person in the state. We pity him,” the general secretary of the All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union, Dipu Ranjan Macrary, said. Gogoi told the delegation that he would institute a “high-level impartial inquiry” into alleged atrocities on residents of Lezai Baruahgaon and ask the army top brass to order an identification parade of the accused soldiers. Protesters had blocked National Highway 37 at three points near Sessa Tiniali on July 23 to protest the alleged rape and molestation of women during a counter-insurgency operation by the 11 Guards Regiment. They rejected the magisterial inquiry instituted by the Dibrugarh administration and demanded a judicial probe. The forum spearheading the campaign set August 15 as the deadline for the chief minister to start the inquiry. Sources in the district administration said the magistrate conducting the inquiry had sought forensic reports to conclude the inquiry. A woman allegedly raped by the jawans was released today from Assam Medical College and Hospital. The government financed her treatment. The army continued to maintain that the entire issue had been “cooked up” by a pro-Ulfa lobby to demoralise the confidence of forces that are going hard at the outfit.