Diphu September 9 : A decision by the Central Government to exempt Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals belonging to minority community of those countries like Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Buddhist from the relevant provisions of rules and order made under the passport act and foreigners act has been widely welcomed by Assam Hindu Bengali Protection Forum.
Speaking to this correspondent, Kishor Choudhary, the state convener of the forum, said the intention of the BJP led Central Government is to safeguard the life and property of thousands of religious minority people forced to migrate to India due to religious persecution by the religious majority of those nations.
“I welcome the step taken by the Central Government and also welcome Assam Government’s Cabinet decision in this direction; at this context I like to appeal Assam government to stop arrests and detention of hundreds of Hindu Bengali persons charging them of being foreigners. All the arrested persons locked up in detention camps should be freed immediately as both governments are unanimous in this issue. I also like to call upon the Chief Minister of Assam to take a step on humanitarian considerations and stop issuing notices for arrest of innocent Hindu Bengali’s who have suffered enough and have sought refuge in India for protection of their life and property”
Until today, no tribal organizations including the student’s organization have opposed the Central move. Some prominent leaders are of the view that the decision of the Central government should be given concrete shape by enacting strong law to maintain the demographic pattern of Assam where Hindu population has declined (according to latest census) and all tribal communities of the state are bound to be affected soon.
They mentioned the ethnic serif continuing in Bodoland area where the tribals are suffering due to exodus of Bangladeshis whose aim is to change the entire demography of the area by forcing religious and cultural composition of the Bodos.
The All Assam Bengali Youth Students’ Federation asked the government to particularly not that there are such minority people currently in detention camps. They include 27 people in the Goalpara Detention Camp, 18 in the Kokrajhar Detention Camp, and five in the Silchar Detention Camp.
