IT News
Guwahati, July 2:
The Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) has raised serious concerns about the ongoing debates surrounding the voting patterns of Bangladesh-origin Muslims in Assam and their increasing aggressions towards the original inhabitants, despite benefiting from development initiatives by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments in New Delhi and Dispur. In a statement, the PPFA questioned the utility of these discussions, noting that they result in little practical outcome. They argued that it is time for pragmatic action, particularly in demanding a correct National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam, with 1951 as the base year.
The PPFA emphasized the need to end public debates on this issue and urged both the Central and State governments to take concrete steps to identify and deport illegal migrants. They acknowledged that deportation might not be immediately feasible but stressed the importance of identifying illegal migrants and distributing them proportionately across the country.
Reflecting on the Assam Accord of 1985, the PPFA pointed out that it accepted all Bangladesh-origin nationals who entered Assam on or before 21 March 1971, due to the complexities of the historical context. They questioned why the leaders at the time did not request then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to sign the accord, which would have mandated a debate in the Lok Sabha and potentially led to a fairer deal for Assam’s native populace. The PPFA suggested that a demand for redistributing these individuals across India could have been made, allowing Assam to accept its share and move towards development.
On the issue of the NRC, the PPFA noted that it has yet to be endorsed by the Registrar General of India, leaving room for a complete re-verification of the draft. They raised concerns about the inclusion of foreign names through tampered software, allegedly orchestrated by former NRC State coordinator Prateek Hajela. The process, according to the PPFA, was marred by irregularities and corruption, as identified by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, with financial irregularities amounting to over Rs 260 crores.
The PPFA called for legal action against Hajela and an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate into the financial irregularities and potential money laundering practices. They also suggested a National Investigation Agency probe to uncover any foreign money involved in incorporating illegal migrants’ names into the NRC. Additionally, they questioned the motives of some mainstream journalists who advocated for accepting the NRC draft without verification, hinting at possible corruption.
