Unprecedented clamour on NRC

Shiban  Khaibri
As many as seven  districts of Assam have , over the years, borne the worst brunt of demographic invasion and reduced the native Assamese to a minority on account of unabated illegal and unwarranted immigration of Bangladeshi nationals . These districts are Dhubri, Barpeta, Golpara, Darang, Hailakand , Merigaon and Karimganj. An appraisal summarily made of the population of “religious minority” from 1971 to 2011 will prove the point with startling comparative figures. Dislocation of demographic equations have not only created new structural changes in religious groups in population count but the invading influx created tremendous law and order problem associated with communal and ethnic tensions in addition to  social and economic strains.
Taking the cue or the hint from the grave situation in Assam for nearly five decades, we should take holistic corrective steps and adopt a realistic approach in respect of influx of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladesis into Jammu under a sinister plan. We must all see to it   that they were deported sooner than any later from Jammu and other parts of this state to preempt any situation like Assam taking place.
The hue and cry raised by a few die hard pseudo secularists over the likely aftermath of the Draft NRC in Assam is not only unwarranted but lands at non patriotic  tendencies, especially when demonstrated openly . It is seditious when the issue is twisted and misinterpreted when Mamta Bannerjee , CM of West Bengal goes  even to the extent of threatening of a “civil war” and a “blood bath”. Despite this, there is no action against her for abetting violence between different groups which would pitch against one another to fight a civil war and spill blood; despite that there is the hoax of an “Undeclared Emergency” planted to generate fear and awe. That is simply the bizarre type of politics engineered simply because all these theatricals are indulged in to endearing to the religious compatriots of the identified non citizens because of the fear of getting the apple cart of vote bank upset with their deportation or till that cumbersome process takes place, delist them as voters.
Central Governments right from 1947-48 have been adopting very liberal attitude to this problem, underestimating the larger ramifications, like that of a trammel net in the sense as time passed by, any antidote to the malaise would prove of no avail. Another reason acting as a constrain to act both by the state and Central Governments for decades had been a new find of immense benefit to these governments run by the same political party – a buzzing and  ever expanding vote Bank. Keep on planting imaginary fears from labeled communal Right wing groups in these immigrants to enjoy smooth flow of votes after ration tickets and other basic documents were made available to them. How can two crore Bangladeshi illegal immigrants continue to live in a sovereign country which is not theirs by any account and which otherwise is reeling under population explosion and tremendous strain on resources?
One is aghast on seeing the political theatrics indulged in by a few select parties and who expressed themselves contrary to expectations of patriotic Indians in the Parliament. Kharge from Congress blamed the Government for 40 lac non -Indians “deleted knowingly” from the list. CPI (M) called it “based on religious considerations”. TMC wondered where the deleted 40 lacs “tortured” people would go .RJD warned that hate and violence would increase.  Mamta Ji in 2005 indignantly threw papers on the seat of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha over illegal Bangladeshis in Bengal   whose influx she claimed as a disaster for West Bengal and the country and now she is doing all the opposite, swayed by simple arithmetic that the Left was greatly benefited by these Bangladeshi infiltrators with their votes for 34 years and why should that opportunity not be fully availed of by the TMC ? So knowingly, communal card is inserted into the issue of national security.
Imagine what would  the same Mamta Ji do in the instant case if she became  the Prime Minister  of this democratic country on account of  her tireless efforts in  uniting  apples and potatoes into a cohesive “alliance” or a united force   only to defeat  Modi Ji and the BJP led NDA in 2019  elections . Her intentions and that of those whom she wants to cobble with, is to defeat Modi and not give a better government .Perhaps, she would boastfully and “secularly” throw open the flood gates to all “persecuted” people of the world to enter India just like Late Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had allegedly facilitated East Pakistanis to enter Assam without any hindrance during 1957-67. These fears are genuinely disturbing going by her pleading the cause of those who entered Assam illegally to make the dream of extended Partition fructify for Pakistan by overtly or covertly annexing Assam with Pakistan or making it a trouble spot on account of invading and dislocating the demographic equations in irreparable ways.
It is unexpected of a political leader of the stature of the Chief Minister of a large state like West Bengal to habitually oppose, fight, deride and try to derail any move or any reform that was going to have larger benefits for the country. Be it Land Acquisition Bill, she will oppose. Be it much desired demonetization, she would fight it back and press for reversing of the decision, be it ousting of illegally entered Rohingya Muslims, she would resist and instead make their stay assured and comfortable. Be it the much desired social reform in respect of   Tripple Talaq , she would oppose. Be it the exercise of making and updating of the NRC, she would threaten of a civil war. It is disgusting.
The historic Golaghat Convention of October 1985 of Asom  Gana Parishad after its long , undaunted and perpetual struggle for the longest period of six years was as a fallout of the exogenous causes of the plight of Assamese people on account of unstoppable influx of nationals  of erstwhile East Pakistan and later Bangladesh and the agitation gave birth to All Assam Students Union (AASU). Assam Agitation could have earned the distinction of being one of the longest peaceful agitations of the World but for the violence in Nellie. Assam Accord of 1985 with lot of hype initially proved a damp squib as no follow up action was taken by the state and central governments in identifying, detecting and deportation of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants.
Lot of hopes were pinned by the people of Assam in the present dispensation both at centre as well as at the state. Why not, Assam, for decades together has been reduced to a dumping ground for illegal Bangladeshi nationals. It is, however, heartening to note that a Draft list of citizens has been released by the Assam Government updated since 1951 and all monitored under the Supreme Court directions. Those who have been living in Assam before March 1971 are eligible for inclusion in the NRC in accordance with the  1985 Assam Accord.  Most of the opposition parties, instead of lauding the efforts of the State Government which so far none of the governments could do as they had no will power or inclination for fear of losing a well nursed vote Bank , they have made it an issue for the battle ground of 2019. The opposition from the select political parties chiefly the TMC is to the extent of having hats in the belfry. That is a tragedy in this country.
There could be errors in the Draft list and many from the figure of 40 lac not included could be genuine citizens which could  be rectified as promised by both the state and  Central Governments but other causes, reasons and factors manufactured to abort the entire exercise   should never succeed. Nobody should fight for illegal immigrants on any vague ground like human right, poverty, claim of staying for years together etc and some leaders trying to encash the “opportunity cost” landing in Assam to incite amounts to betrayal of the original inhabitants of the places where these unwanted ones have forced themselves in. Why betray Indians in India as India is only for Indians.
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