Latest news with #DebabrataSaikia
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.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Vigilante Groups Intensify Illegal Immigrant Hunt In Assam's Sivasagar
In Assam's Sivasagar, a vigilante movement has intensified pricking the political fault lines in the state, with civil society organisations carrying out an overdrive to detect suspected illegal immigrants, a job otherwise bestowed upon the government and law enforcement agencies by the constitution. Organisations including Jatiyo Sangrami Sena Asom, Ahom Jatiyo Ganamancha, AATASU, Sangrami Yuva Chatra Parishad, Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, Anusuchit Jati Chatra Santha, and Jatiyo Sangrami Mahila Parishad, are part of this over drive in Sivasagar district. They are demanding immediate detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals and extended full support to the state government's ongoing eviction drives against encroachers on government land. Issuing a sharp warning, the groups declared that drives would intensify across Upper Assam this week. The members of these vigilante groups are going door to door to verify people who are working as labourers, staying on rents to find out who among them are suspected illegal immigrants and asking them to leave the district immediately, the locals said. Meanwhile, both the ruling BJP and the main opposition congress have started to target each other over this growing vigilantism in Upper Assam - a region which is seen as the road to power in Assam - with the elections in Assam slated to take place by April next year. "India is a country for Indian citizens. Those who have entered illegally, without documentation and by force, cannot be allowed to stay. Congress's vote bank politics will no longer work," said BJP National Secretary Rituraj Sinha, while reiterating his party's firm stance against illegal immigration in Assam. On the other hand, Leader of the Opposition and Congress MLA Debabrata Saikia accused the BJP of communalising the issue for political gain. He claimed that the eviction drives are targeting even indigenous people and that terms like "suspected foreigners" are being misused to harass minorities. "In the name of evicting illegal immigrants, they are targeting poor Indian citizens from minority communities. This is nothing but a diversionary tactic to hide governance failures," Saikia said. The Congress leader further challenged the BJP to release data on how many illegal immigrants have actually been deported over the past nine years. "Instead of real action, the government is creating a climate of fear and communal tension," he added.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt plans to evict 1k families for aerocity project: Saikia
1 2 Guwahati: Opposition leader and senior Congressman Debabrata Saikia claimed on Tuesday that the state govt plans to seize land from hundreds of indigenous families near Guwahati airport to hand it over to the Adani group for an aerocity project. The move has sparked unrest in the villages of Garal, Mirzapur, and Azara, as residents received land acquisition notices from the Kamrup (Metro) administration in recent days. "The Assam govt is planning to evict more than 1000 families and acquire a large amount of land for the proposed Adani group's aerocity at Guwahati airport. The govt intends to acquire the land in the name of Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) to transfer it to the Adani Group for the aerocity," Saikia alleged. Congress and several other opposition parties earlier opposed the Centre's decision to transfer the management of Guwahati airport to the Adani group. Saikia said previously, in 2021, the state govt evicted 54 families for airport expansion. "Now, they plan to acquire approximately 410 bighas of land in Kamrup Metropolitan district's Ramcharani Mouza, including 70 bighas in Garal village, 257 bighas in Mirzapur village, and 83 bighas in Azara," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Learn More Undo While eviction notices have been issued to about 1,116 families living near the airport, Saikia added that some of the families have land deeds for more than a century. "This acquisition of ancestral land demonstrates the govt's ruthlessness. Despite claiming to prioritise Assamese interests, the chief minister's actions reveal a bias towards capitalists. Additionally, local businesses, including homes, flats, and small enterprises, will be negatively impacted," Saikia cautioned. He rued that the state govt is using the 'outdated' Assam Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1964, for this acquisition instead of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act). "RFCTLARR Act, 2013 ensures fair compensation and consent from affected families," he said. While the affected villagers have formed a committee to protest the move, many local businesses fear significant losses from the aerocity project. "They said guest houses, hotels, and restaurants around the airport in Borjhar, Azara, Mirza, and Dharapur will struggle to compete with Adani's Aerocity, reducing their sales and demand," Saikia said. He further added, "Environmentally, the aerocity could negatively impact the nearby Ramsar site, Deepor Beel, and surrounding agricultural and grazing lands."
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong launches online public grievance portal
1 2 Guwahati: Assam PCC on Monday officially launched an online public grievance portal called 'Assam Justice', designed to address public concerns and advocate for social justice in the state. The inauguration ceremony took place at Rajiv Bhawan, Guwahati, with prominent attendees, including leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia, working presidents Zakir Hussain Sikdar and MLAs Diganta Barman, Wazed Ali Choudhury, Aftabuddin Mollah, APCC Women's Wing president Mira Barthakur and senior spokesperson Rituparna Konwar. Saikia said was created to enhance communication with the public and hold state govt accountable regarding grievances of the public. The initiative, influenced by Rahul Gandhi's vision and Congress principles, provides Assam residents a straightforward method to submit their concerns and obtain solutions. Describing the portal as a new platform for protecting public rights, ensuring govt accountability, and promoting transparency, Saikia said, "It will act as a digital bridge between the public and the opposition. Citizens across the state will be able to raise issues related to local governance, public health, education, roads, and infrastructure." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Through this platform, the state PCC and Congress aim to consolidate public grievances and bring them directly to the attention of the govt. "The portal will allow anyone from Assam to submit complaints, which the party will then review and forward to the relevant departments for prompt resolution," Saikia said. The portal will especially focus on highlighting irregularities and mismanagement in areas under the Panchayati Raj system. It will push for resolution of failures in govt services including healthcare, education, roads, sanitation, and more. Clarifying that this is not just a platform for lodging complaints but rather a step to consolidate the ground realities of public service failures, Saikia reiterated that this is an initiative to expose the shortcomings of the govt.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Halt Goalpara eviction, give land to affected: Cong to CM
1 2 3 4 5 6 Guwahati: Senior Congress leader and leader of the opposition in Assam assembly, Debabrata Saikia, wrote to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma , urging him to stay the eviction in Goalpara and to provide alternate land to those evicted and those yet to be evicted. A total of 667 families were evicted for allegedly encroaching over 600 bighas of land at Hasilabeel village under Balijana revenue circle in lower Assam's Goalpara district. The families mostly belong to the Bengali-speaking Muslim community, officials said. Saikia urged the CM to direct the Goalpara district commissioner not to evict the people until the CM meets with the people of the village on June 18. "We have already stated that we will cooperate with the govt to free the land from encroachers, subject to compliance with various guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, and also laws and rules enacted by the Assam Legislative Assembly for eviction of landless people and rehabilitation, in case they are evicted from govt land, Khas land, reserve land, etc," he added. He said it was apparent that the people occupying the land in question were living there as they had no alternative land to build their houses and provide shelter to their families. He also directed a Congress delegation, led by chief whip of the party in the Assembly Wazed Ali Choudhury, to visit the eviction site at the earliest and submit a memorandum to the governor, urging him to ensure fair practice and extend all help for rehabilitation, in case eviction of citizens is carried out from the presently occupied land by the govt as per rules. On the other hand, an eight-member Congress delegation was stopped by Assam Police and local authorities from visiting the eviction site. Police put up barricades at Hashila Beel in Goalpara to stop the Congress MLAs from proceeding.
