If the response or rather, reaction to NE bandh called by NESO is any yardstick, the fight against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants (IBIs) is all but over in Assam. Even though NESO, predominantly represented by AASU elements, sounded a clarion call for NE bandh on 6th September, its effort in Assam, the cradle of IBIs, was half-hearted. Maybe, it sensed that Assam government was unwilling to let anti-immigrant agenda dominate or simply that after 30 years of anti-foreigners agitation, Assamese people are now tired. Whatever the case, from Dibrugarh in upper Assam to Guwahati in central, Diphu in southwest, life went as usual. The once powerful AASU cannot enter several districts of Assam, forget enforcing a bandh. AGP, formed out of Assam agitation against IBIs is now a spent force. It was only in the other NE states such as Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal and Manipur that the bandh was successful. This is a lesson for each one of us. Assam, barring Karbi Anglong and other autonomous district councils can never be fully called upon to jointly co-ordinate with other states and fight IBIs. Bangladeshi elements have made too much inroads into Assamese society for any anti-immigrant policies/agitation to take fruition there.
Naga public is applauded for making the NESO bandh a success. Even though bandhs are inconvenient, sometimes it’s a necessary tool to wake up governments in deep slumber especially on the issue of illegal immigrants. DNSU went to great length to ensure the bandh a success in Dimapur and PAC under the aegis of Naga Council is grateful to the students’ body. At the same time, Manipur & Meghalaya government is much lauded for undertaking timely drives against IBIs in their respective states even though the menace of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants there is not as profound as Nagaland. On the whole, the role of local media (Nagaland) in promptly highlighting the issue of IBIs is much appreciated and this shows that government, tribal bodies/NGOs and media should come together to tackle this IBI issue of national security proportion. The state Chief Secretary is requested to constitute the STF without wasting time as promised in April last.
Sd/-
PAC
Under the aegis
of Naga Council
