Latest news with #AssamAccord
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Assam Students Body Protests Against Government's Directive On Hindu Migrants
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) staged statewide protests on Friday at district headquarters, strongly opposing the Assam government's reported directive to withdraw all citizenship-related cases against illegal Hindu migrants. The Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had denied media reports on Thursday that his government has asked officials of the foreigners tribunals to drop cases against members of six communities—Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi—who entered the state before 2015, citing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). However, the CM's assurances have not cut ice with AASU, which has spearheaded anti-CAA protests in the state. In Guwahati, members of AASU's Kamrup Mahanagar district unit assembled in front of the Swahid Nyas, where they burned copies of the reported directive and shouted anti-government slogans. Addressing the media, AASU President Utpal Sarma said, "The Government of Assam has issued instructions to all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to withdraw citizenship-related cases against illegal Hindu migrants from Bangladesh. These directives are unacceptable." "AASU firmly opposes this move. As a mark of protest, we have burned copies of the directive at all district headquarters today. We reiterate our stand against the CAA and demand that the government withdraw this decision, which effectively protects illegal Hindu Bangladeshis in foreigners' tribunals," he said. Utpal Sarma also reiterated AASU's consistent demand for the full implementation of the Assam Accord. "Only those who entered Assam before March 24, 1971—regardless of religion—are eligible for Indian citizenship. Anyone who came after that, Hindu or Muslim, must be identified and expelled. That has always been our stand," Mr Sarma said. He concluded by announcing that protests would continue across the state until the government revokes the directive and upholds the constitutional and historical sanctity of the Assam Accord.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong slams govt over threat to migrant Muslims in state
Guwahati: Assam Congress has accused the state govt of failing to protect the constitutional rights of migrant Muslims of Bangladesh-origin, known as 'Miyas', in upper Assam. The party has criticized the govt for allegedly being a mute spectator as indigenous youth and student groups prevent these migrants from entering the region, calling it a blatant violation of their right to free movement. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ripun Bora, former president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, addressed the media at Rajiv Bhavan in Guwahati, highlighting the plight of workers from lower Assam who have been labeled as 'Miyas' and forced to flee. "These are Muslims seeking work and livelihood, not land grabbers," Bora asserted, emphasizing their contribution to the GDP. The Congress leader's remarks follow renewed threats from local groups demanding 'Miyas' leave upper Assam within 48 hours. Tensions escalated in Charaideo district when a Muslim family, armed with sharp weapons, confronted local organization members allegedly searching for migrant Muslims. The Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad has threatened a 100-hour bandh if their demands are not met. Bora expressed grave concern over the deteriorating situation, urging indigenous groups to maintain harmony and condemning the state govt's inaction. He accused the BJP-led govt, under CM , of failing to ensure public safety and criticized the chief minister's call for citizens to arm themselves. Bora demanded the governor dismiss CM Sarma, alleging that mob violence is occurring under his watch, leading to a severe breakdown of law and order. He reiterated the Congress party's stance on the Assam Accord, which mandates the deportation of anyone entering Assam after March 25, 1971, while condemning the harassment of Indian citizens. The Congress leader also took aim at Sarma's policies, questioning his commitment to Assamese identity and nationalism. "How can someone who disregards the Assam Accord and enforces the CAA claim to love Assam?" Bora challenged, calling for immediate action to restore peace and order in the state.
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Protests in Assam on August 8 against state govt's Hindu Bangladeshi decision
ANI Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Guwahati: The All-Assam Students' Union (AASU) has announced a protest on August 8 against the state government's directive to the Foreigners' Tribunal (FT) to withdraw cases pending in Tribunals against illegal Hindu Bangladesh immigrants. The students' union will burn copies of the government's directive across all district headquarters on Friday. AASU President Utpal Sarma said, 'This is a betrayal of the people of Assam. The government cannot selectively protect illegal immigrants based on religion. There must be no religious affiliation in determining illegality.' Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Debabrata Saikia has asked all political parties and civil society groups to resist what he described as the state government's attempts to 'nullify the Assam Accord'. Referring to government's July-17 directive asking district authorities and Foreigners' Tribunals to drop cases against six religious communities - Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis, Saikia said that it contradicts the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, as stipulated in Assam Accord. The order from the state government stated, 'The DCs and Sr. SPs to take a review of the status of all the Foreigners (Pakistani/ Bangladeshi/ Rohingya). As per the amendments made to the Citizenship Act, the FTs, are, not supposed to pursue cases of foreigners belonging to the six specified communities (Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi and Jain communities) who had entered Assam on or prior to 31.12.2014. It was suggested to stop all such cases., In this regard, the district Commissioner and the Senior SPs should immediately convey a meeting with their respective FT member end also reviews the development periodically and submit the action taken report to this department." It added, 'However, such foreigners should be encouraged and supported for applying for Indian citizenship as per provisions of Citizenship Amendment Act. The Government of Assam had issued clear cut instructions for withdrawal of all cases filed against people belonging to Gorkha and Koch Rajbongshi communities, this should be complied with forthwith. Assam had witnessed violent protests in 2019 and early 2020 after Parliament passed the CAA, which makes minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan eligible to apply for Indian citizenship. Five people were killed in the protests. Assam Accord inked after six yearlong foreigners' movement (1979-1985) provides that foreigners who entered the state after the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, irrespective of their religious affiliation must be deported.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Protests in Assam on August 8 against state govt's Hindu Bangladeshi decision
Guwahati: The All-Assam Students' Union ( AASU ) has announced a protest on August 8 against the state government's directive to the Foreigners' Tribunal (FT) to withdraw cases pending in Tribunals against illegal Hindu Bangladesh immigrants. The students' union will burn copies of the government's directive across all district headquarters on Friday. AASU President Utpal Sarma said, 'This is a betrayal of the people of Assam. The government cannot selectively protect illegal immigrants based on religion. There must be no religious affiliation in determining illegality.' Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Debabrata Saikia has asked all political parties and civil society groups to resist what he described as the state government's attempts to 'nullify the Assam Accord'. Referring to government's July-17 directive asking district authorities and Foreigners' Tribunals to drop cases against six religious communities - Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis, Saikia said that it contradicts the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, as stipulated in Assam Accord . The order from the state government stated, 'The DCs and Sr. SPs to take a review of the status of all the Foreigners (Pakistani/ Bangladeshi/ Rohingya). As per the amendments made to the Citizenship Act, the FTs, are, not supposed to pursue cases of foreigners belonging to the six specified communities (Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi and Jain communities) who had entered Assam on or prior to 31.12.2014. It was suggested to stop all such cases., In this regard, the district Commissioner and the Senior SPs should immediately convey a meeting with their respective FT member end also reviews the development periodically and submit the action taken report to this department." It added, 'However, such foreigners should be encouraged and supported for applying for Indian citizenship as per provisions of Citizenship Amendment Act. The Government of Assam had issued clear cut instructions for withdrawal of all cases filed against people belonging to Gorkha and Koch Rajbongshi communities, this should be complied with forthwith. Assam had witnessed violent protests in 2019 and early 2020 after Parliament passed the CAA, which makes minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan eligible to apply for Indian citizenship. Five people were killed in the protests. Assam Accord inked after six yearlong foreigners' movement (1979-1985) provides that foreigners who entered the state after the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, irrespective of their religious affiliation must be deported.
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
All Assam Students' Union to protest dropping of foreigners tribunal cases against non-Muslims
The All Assam Students' Union on Thursday said that it will protest against the state government's decision to drop foreigners tribunals cases against non-Muslims who entered the state before 2015. The Assamese nationalist students' organisation also demanded the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act from Assam. Scroll was the first to report on Tuesday that Assam's Bharatiya Janata Party government, citing the amended citizenship Act, has asked district authorities and members of the foreigners tribunals to drop cases against persons from six communities – Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi – who entered the state on or before December 31, 2014. The state's home and political department had held a meeting on July 17 and discussed 'issues related to foreigners tribunal with reference to Citizenship Amendment Act' and the 'dropping off cases'. The meeting was held following a directive from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In its statement on Thursday, the All Assam Students' Union said that it opposed the government's order directing the withdrawal of the cases against 'illegal Hindu Bangladeshis' pending before the tribunals and demanded the cancellation of the decision that 'granted protection' to them. It added that copies of the order would be burnt by members of the organisation in every district headquarters on Friday. 'This directive that seeks to protect Bangladeshis must be repealed,' the statement said. 'There must be a permanent solution to the burning problem of illegal foreign nationals in Assam on the basis of the Assam Accord,' it added. 'Therefore, it is necessary to expel all illegal Bangladeshis, Hindu and Muslim, who came after 1971 on the basis of the Assam Accord.' Assam was not a 'pasture' for undocumented Bangladeshi migrants, the group said, adding that the Union government was 'unfairly' imposing the Citizenship Amendment Act on the state. The Citizenship Amendment Act is aimed to provide a fast track to citizenship to refugees from six minority religious communities, except Muslims, from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the condition that they have lived in India for six years and have entered the country by December 31, 2014. It was passed by Parliament in December 2019. The Union government notified the rules under the Act in March 2024. The foreigners tribunals in Assam are quasi-judicial bodies that adjudicate on matters of citizenship based on lineage and a 1971 cut-off date. They rely primarily on documents submitted by persons to establish their family's residency in Assam or India before 1971. The tribunals have been accused of arbitrariness and bias, and declaring people foreigners on the basis of minor spelling mistakes, a lack of documents or lapses in memory. Of the 1.6 lakh persons declared foreigners so far, more than 69,500 are Hindus. Critics contend that the Citizenship Amendment Act undermines the 1985 Assam Accord between the Union government and the leaders of the Assam Movement, which was launched in 1979 to identify and deport undocumented immigrants. The accord stipulates that anyone who entered Assam after the midnight of March 24, 1971, be identified and deported. Assamese nationalist view 'illegal migrants', irrespective of their religion, as a threat to the state's culture and resources. On Thursday, the All Assam Students' Union also noted that the Union government had ensured that '98% of Meghalaya, 70% of Tripura and eight districts, including BTR [Bodoland Territorial Region] and hill districts, of Assam' did not come under the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act. 'This means that CAA does not apply in most of the states and places in the North East,' the statement said. 'There are 27 out of 35 districts in Assam where the CAA is in force. Assam is the worst affected state in the North East.' Claiming that the Act was harmful and 'anti-indigenous', the All Assam Students' Union said that Assam must be completely excluded from its scope. 70,000 designated foreigners may become citizens, says Congress Congress leader Debabrata Saikia said on Thursday that he had sent a letter to several organisations in the state, urging them to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act and to form public opinion against it. The leader of the Opposition in the Assembly said that Act violated the Assam Accord. 'The BJP government is presently formulating plans to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act, which contravenes the Assam Accord, and to grant citizenship to foreigners,' Saikia said. The chief minister has already issued directions on the withdrawal of the cases against foreign nationals pending in the tribunals on the basis of their religion, Saikia added. 'Should this order be implemented, approximately half a million foreign nationals within our state, currently excluded by the Assam Accord, would become eligible for Indian citizenship,' he claimed. About 70,000 persons previously designated as foreigners by the tribunals may also become Indian citizens, the Congress leader added. 'This decision of the government will not only violate the Assam Accord but also have a negative impact on the economic situation and limited natural resources of our state,' Saikia said, adding that the government had not refuted reports about its directive. The Citizenship Amendment Act had sparked massive protests in Assam and several other parts of the country in 2019 and 2020. However, the amended law was welcomed by Assam's Bengali Hindus. In August 2019, Assam published a National Register of Citizens with the aim of separating Indian citizens from undocumented immigrants living in the state. More than 19 lakh persons, or 5.7% of the applicants, were left out of the final list. In March 2024, Sarma said five lakh Bengali Hindus, two lakh Assamese Hindu groups Koch-Rajbongshi, Das, Kalita and Sarma (Assamese), and 1.5 lakh Gorkhas had been left out of the National Register of Citizens. The chief minister had also said that seven lakh Muslims are among the 19 lakh persons excluded from the register. The ruling BJP had claimed that Hindus excluded from the register in Assam would be able to gain citizenship under the amended law. There have been fears that Muslims would be the only ones who stand to lose their citizenship in such an exercise.
