Assam Govt. succumbing to Bangladeshi Jihadis

Gogoi presses pause on NRC

Sanat K Chakraborty | Guwahati -Daily Pioneer

A day after the violent protest by All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) over the ongoing updating of National Register of Citizens (NRC), Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday ordered temporary suspension of the pilot project for wider consultation.

“We have decided to suspend the process (of updating of the NRC) for a few days in order to sort out the issues through discussions,” Gogoi told local channels.

Describing Wednesday’s violence as the handiwork of “a third force,” which tried to create tension between the communities, the Chief Minister said the matter could be resolved through discussions.

Gogoi triggered sharp reaction from the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU), which said the Chief Minister’s remarks clearly suggested total capitulation of his Government to the pro-Bangladeshi lobby.

AASU warned the State Government of a vigorous agitation if the pilot project was stalled to appease the illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who have become a captive vote bank for the Congress.

Echoing the aggressive mood, Opposition AGP and BJP said that under no circumstances could the ongoing process for updating NRC be stopped.

The BJP, on Thursday, announced a week-long programme in all districts of Assam, beginning from Saturday, to educate people about the need for updating the NRC in Assam so rights of the indigenous population were protected.

The Centre had recently launched a pilot project for updating NRC in two circles of Assam — Barpeta and Chaygaon — in order to ensure constitutional safeguards for the Assamese population.

However, on Wednesday, thousands of AAMSU supports took out a procession at Barpeta to protest against the ongoing revision of NRC. The protesters clashed with the police and vandalised DC’s office premises and various other places, which led to death of four persons.

Meanwhile, a 12-hour AAMSU bandh called in protest against police firing, was marked by sporadic violent incidents in various parts of minority-dominated districts. Police opened blank fire in a few places and arrested several protesters during the bandh.

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