Back To The Future

Burning tyres littered des­erted streets across Assam. Security personnel rounded up scores of protesters. In Guwahati, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)바카라�part of the BJP-led government in the state바카라�led a massive protest rally against 바카라�foreigners바카라�.  It was a throwback to the 1980s when the anti-foreigner movement was at its peak, raising passions and sparking tension in equal measure. Thirty-three years after the agitation, not much has changed. The issue remains the same and the atmosphere as charged as ever.

On Tuesday, Assam ground to a halt in response to a bandh called by more than 40 organisations to protest the Citizenship Ame-ndment Bill, 2016, which aims to give Indian citizenship to 바카라�persecuted minorities바카라� from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. For a vast majority of people in Assam, this move is a 바카라�betrayal바카라� by the BJP which stormed to power in the state for the first time in 2016 with the promise of protecting 바카라�jaati, maati, bheti바카라� (identity, land and home).  The bandh coincided with a meeting in Delhi of the Joint Parliamentary Committee which was formed to seek the opinion of the people on the bill.

The AGP바카라�twice elected to power바카라�says it is ready to part ways with the BJP on the issue. 바카라�We can바카라�t support the bill which goes against the Constitution of the country바카라�,바카라� AGP president Atul Bora, also the agriculture minister, tells Outlook. Influx of undocumented migra­nts, especially from Bangladesh, is a divisive issue in Assam. Many believe that unabated migration is the biggest threat to the language, culture and identity of the 바카라�indigenous바카라� people. The BJP sees a threat too, but only from Bangladeshi Muslims. BJP leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma바카라�a former Congressman who switched sides ahead of the 2016 polls바카라�says there is no threat from Bangladeshi Hindus as only they can safeguard the culture of Assam unli­­ke Bangladeshi Muslims.

The protests come amid the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) aimed at identifying genuine 바카라�Indian citizens바카라�. The controversy-ridden exercise is being done over the long-held belief that names of lakhs of 바카라�illegal migrants바카라� have crept into the voter list after 1971.  The AGP says the bill will negate the entire NRC update. As per the Assam Accord of 1985, people who entered Assam before March 25, 1971, are Indian citizens.

The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, a student union, warned the BJP-led government against hurting the sentiments of the Assamese. 바카라�We want a state free from the illegal citizens and the BJP is playing politics with reli­gion,바카라� says its general secretary Palash Changmai.

Akhil Gogoi, the firebrand leader of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), a farmer association, says 바카라�the people of the state spontaneously supported the strike as their future is at stake under the BJP government바카라�.

The bill has divided the state with people of Barak Valley바카라�where Hindu Bengalis are in a majority바카라�supporting the BJP government바카라�s move. However, the Citizens Rights Protection Forum-Assam, an umbrella organisation of several Bengali groups, says the BJP has failed to secure their interests in the state. 바카라�We have faced problems in the NRC update process. Many people have been left out,바카라� the for­um바카라�s media in-charge, Sudip Sharma Choudhury, says.

The BJP accused leaders like Akhil Gogoi of misleading the people. 바카라�The bill is being reviewed by the JPC which comprises MPs from all the parties not only BJP. So, the people must understand that it바카라�s a neutral process. As the bill still under review, there is no point creating such chaos,바카라� says Syed Muminul Aowal, party spokesperson. He said the AGP leaders should sit with party president Amit Shah and 바카라�sort out things바카라�.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has promised to protect the interests of all when the government takes a final call on the bill. Not many are willing to beli­eve him now. 바카라�We had also trusted Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had promised that 바카라�all Bangadeshis will have to leave Assam bag and baggage바카라�. We were fools to believe him,바카라� said Arnab Sharma, a businessman. The fear of the 바카라�Bangla­deshi바카라� remains as alive as it was in 1979 when the Assam agitation began.

By Abdul Gani in Guwahati