Cause of the ‘D’ voters in Assam, particularly Hindu Bengalis

The spectre of ’D’ voters and Adhivakta Parishad

SILCHAR, July 31: All India Adhivakta Parishad (AIAP) has been fighting for the cause of the ‘D’ voters, particularly Hindu Bengalis, who have been forced to migrate from their hearths and homes from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, and take shelter in Assam and other States of the country. They have been, in fact, subjected to religious persecution and victims of social and political unrest. The declining population of Hindus in Bangladesh is a pointer to it and needs no repetition. The process of migration has been continuing even after the creation of Bangladesh, carved out of East Pakistan, in 1971.

But, these unfortunate victims of atrocities have been subjected to harassment by police in Assam which has seen shifting enactment of legislation. Strangely enough, when the rest of the country has been adhering to the Foreigners’ Act of 1946, Assam has its own legislation starting from the Illegal Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act of 1950 down to the most controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act of 1983. These have only gone to confound and complicate the foreigners’ issue instead of evolving any solution.

The Hindu Bengalis who needed to be protected after their migration from Bangladesh have been treated like the infiltrators and branded ‘D’ voters and even sent to detention camps and pushed back. Many of them have to move heaven and earth to prove their bonafide as Indian citizens.

It is in order to protect these unfortunate victims of forced migration that All India Adhivakta Parishad along with NGO ‘Swajan’ have taken up the cudgel. Bimolangshu Roy Foundation subsequently joined the fight for the cause of Hindu Bengalis, demanding the status of refugees to them in Assam and in other States.

Accordingly, as Santanu Naik, state zonal secretary of Adhivakta Parishad, a Writ Petition (Civil) No. 243/12 was filed before the Supreme Court of India which was listed for hearing on July 25 before the two Judge bench of the Chief Justice P Sathashivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The petitioners were MN Krishnamani, senior advocate, Pinky Anand, senior advocate, and Shuvodeep Roy, advocate. The Supreme Court after hearing the arguments and perusal of the matters issued notice to 18 States including the Centre and Assam to reply on the status being granted to all such migrated people in respective States. The displaced minority communities from Bangladesh include Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians. The plea by ‘Swajan’ and Bimolangshu Roy Foundation is that they should be given the status of refugees who migrated to India.

Santanu Naik said Adhivakta Parishad has been fighting for the cause of the displaced minorities for the last 7 years. It has submitted a 308 page draft, later on modified in consistent with legal procedures. The matter was discussed at the national forum of the Parishad which attached due importance to it and the case was forcefully made and pleaded before the Apex Court, he pointed out.

Describing the admission and hearing of the case before the Supreme Court as a significant step forward, Santanu Naik was hopeful that justice would ultimately come to the Hindu Bengalis of Assam in particular. He also expressed his gratitude to two other advocates, Joydeep Roy and Bharat Kumar.

According to the statement of Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, in the State Assembly on July 15, 1,47,872 people have been branded ‘D’ voters and notices have been served on 1,18,472 of them to prove their citizenship. Maximum number of those served with notice are Hindu Bengalis. Their predicament can well be understood. After hounded out of their native country, they are now being hounded out of the country of their shelter.

Manik Das, a banana vendor, of Thaligram, Cachar, was branded ‘D’ voter by police and without serving notice on him to appear before the Foreigners’ Tribunal, he was taken all the way to Mahisashan border and pushed back. He however came back and challenged the arbitrary action of police and could prove that he was an Indian citizen. The another pathetic tale is of Bhupendra Paul of Dhalcherra, also in Cachar. He too was harassed by police in its witch–hunting, although he could prove that he was not a doubtful citizen. He still bore the bullet injury mark on his right arm during the language movement of 1961.

The family members of two rickshaw pullers, Monotosh and Sontosh Sabdakars of Paikan on the outskirts of Hailakandi, have to spend sleepless nights and continue to go through nightmarish experiences after police one day picked up both the brothers and pushed them to the other side of the border without even verifying their citizenship. Considering their extreme plight, they deserve compassion and humanitarian treatment. The judgement of the Supreme Court is now being awaited.

Source: The Sentinel 01.08.2013

Extension of the Kumbhirgram Airport Silchar

Committee to resolve land tangle of Kumbhirgram Airport

SILCHAR, July 30: In order to resolve the tangle involving the acquisition of land by Indian Air Force stationed at Kumbhirgram, a meeting of all concerned was held at the initiative of the district administration of Cachar on Tuesday. The meeting held under the presidentship of the Deputy Commissioner, Gokul Mohan Hazarika, a 16 member broad based committee was formed.

The members of the committee would visit the lands in question on August 5 to be acquired by IAF and after on the spot survey would examine all the pros and cons of the controversial issue. The committee consists of two Additional Deputy Commissioners, Land Acquisition Officer, Assistant Circle Officer, representatives from the IAF and Kumbhirgram Airport, ITA president and secretary, representatives from Barak Cha Sramik Union, Manager of Kumbha Tea Estate, and Kumbha Bagan Panchayat president.

The land has to be acquired for the extension of the Kumbhirgram Airport which is under the control of IAF for its strategic location. The Airport extension needs 130 bighas of land of Scotpur Tea Estate and 200 hectares of land of Kumbhirgram Goodrick Company. The land of Goodrick Tea Company is under tea plantation. The Airport Authority has agreed to provide alternative land to Scotpur Tea Estate. This has resolved the problem in respect of Scotpur. But, since no alternative land can be provided to Goodrick Tea Company, the tangle remains and for that the 16 member committee has been formed to resolve it.

Source: The Sentinel 31.07.2013

Barak Dam, Tipaimukh Dam Multipurpose Project

Will Barak remain a valley of sorrow?

SILCHAR, July 28: With the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MOFE) refusing to give clearance to the 1,500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Project in Manipur, the question now making round in civil circles is, will Barak remain a valley of sorrow? It is a well known fact that the river Barak with its more than 10 tributaries in the event of heavy rains in the catchment areas and along the down–streams spells doom and disaster in the valley. Official reports in the aftermath of floods speak of colossus losses in terms of agriculture, standing crops, human dwelling places, livestock, communication network and even human life.

Tipaimukh Hydel Power Project was designed to produce 1,500 MW of power which besides meeting the peak hour requirements of this valley will also cater to the demand of the north east states and even contribute to the central grid. Thousands of acres of agricultural land will get irrigation facilities during dry season. It was also to moderate and control floods, an annual scourage.

The grounds for refusal by the subcommittee of Ministry of Forest and Environment are that 24,329 hectares of forest land with 78,16,931 trees and 27,000 bamboo columns will be destroyed, resulting in adverse impact on ecosystem. It will eventually tell heavily on the habitats, flora and fauna, biodiversity, microclimate and environment. It will also have negative impact on the livelihood and culture of the affected people. Being located in the seismic belt, disastrous consequences are foreseen in the event of an earthquake. The lessons of Uttarakhand could hardly be overlooked.

It is surprising that the project mooted more than 40 years ago and given environmental clearance in 2008 should now be caught in controversy. Moreover, rehabilitation package for the 557 families in 12 villages to be displaced in the event of the construction of the dam was also prepared and approved by the MOFE. It is also on record that in order to build up infrastructure facilities at the site, Rs 6 crore was allotted for the purpose when Vidya Charan Shukla, killed in Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh a few days ago, was the Union Minister of Water Resources. It is also significant that the foundation stone of this project was laid by Sushil Kumar Shinde, then Union Minister of Power, in the presence of other Central Ministers who included Sontosh Mohan Dev, Oscar Fernandez and Prithviraj Chauhan and Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh, on December 17, 2006.

The multipurpose project is located 500 metres downstream of river Tuivai from Mizoram and Barak from Manipur near Tipaimukh village in the Tamenlong district of Manipur. In fact, its strategic location makes it the most favoured power project with abundant water resources and of high velocity. After all the detailed survey and study to commission the project, the refusal of the Ministry of Forest and Environment to give it the environment clearance brings into fore certain relevant facts for reconsideration and relook. It has to be noted that there are 4,536 large dams in the country which are now embarking upon adopting emergency action plan to avert the possible cascading effect of dam failure in view of the Uttarakhand tragedy and disaster. Similar, emergency action plan can be prepared to meet any critical situation. In respect of the forest lands being destroyed, it has been suggested that additional non forest areas in the affected or adjoining districts of Mizoram, Manipur and Assam can be taken up for compensatory afforestation. More than the disaster signal being sounded is the wreckless and merciless felling of trees and destruction of forests across north east as a whole by man itself.

The State of Forest Report, 2011, released by Forest Survey of India (FSI) shows the region has lost 549 sq km of forest cover in the last two years, while another 1,229 sq km forest land has also been degraded into scrub with canopy density of less than 10 per cent. Assam has lost the maximum forest cover in the entire country of the very dense category of forest, 17 sq km in last two years. The moderately dense type of forest in Assam has also decreased by 152 sq km – the highest in the country, according to the report. All the reserve forests of this valley are today nothing more than the replicas of their past greenery. The apprehension of forested land, it is clear, is rather unconvincing. To reject environment clearance on this ground is far from reasoned. It is quite relevant to refer here to the saga of success of Damodar Valley Corporation in West Bengal which once predicted to spell doom and disaster has turned the Damodar Valley earlier known as “sorrow of Bengal” into the “rice bowl of India.” The entire lower Damodar area below Durgapur barrage covering the districts of Burdwan, Hoogli and Howrah have benefitted due to flood moderation by DVC Dam. This fast multipurpose power project in India has drastically changed the socio–economic scenario of the Damodar Valley area. Now, according to the chairman, Rabindra Nath Sen, DVC is taking up remedial measures to avoid catastrophe like the Himalayan Tsunami at Uttarakhand.

Source: The Sentinel July 29, 2013

Assam Markzul Uloom in Guwahati

Sarbananda Sonowal (2nd Left), President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Assam Pradesh along with others taking part in an Iftar Party, organized by BJP Minority Morcha, at Assam Markzul Uloom in Guwahati on Saturday. (Sentinel)

Army personnel checking passerby and vehicles in Dibrugarh town as the ULFA observes its Martyrs Day

Army personnel checking passerby and vehicles in Dibrugarh town as the ULFA observes its Martyr?s Day on Saturday. (Sentinel)

Silchar Lumding Broad Gauge, East–West Corridor Project

BJP to launch movement for the speedy completion of BG and East–West Corridor

SILCHAR, July 26: Cachar Bharatiya Janata Party will launch a mass movement for the expeditious completion of two much awaited projects– Silchar Lumding Broad Gauge and East–West Corridor– next month. Kaushik Rai, president of Cachar BJP told the reporters here that he would convene a meeting on August 3 where the strategies for the movement will be finalized.

On being asked about the release of the main kingpin of multicrore zilla parishad scam, he said that Bahnisikha Dutta was released with the help of police department and dubbed the whole incident as “an act of drama”. He said that BJP would not move an inch from its demand for CBI probe into the issue. Only CBI enquiry will unearth the depth of the scam, he added. The BJP is also planning to file a Public Interest Litigation in High Court in this regard.

Source: http://www.sentinelassam.com/

Assam as ‘tribal state’

Barak people seek intervention of President in ‘tribal state’ issue

SILCHAR, July 20: Hundreds of people belonging to different social organizations under the aegis of Citizens’ Forum today staged a protest demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, opposing the probable move to declare Assam as ‘tribal state’. The denizens also submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India, detailing their grievances against such feasible move by the Centre and the State in line with the demand of ULFA.

The leaders in chorus said that the Centre and the State should think of probable repercussions that might arise following such move. They said that Assam is a multilingual and multiethnic State and non tribal people covers two third of the State population.

They said that people have the right to know the details of different demands placed by the ULFA before the Home Ministry. It is mandatory to reveal the Government’s stand on all these demand. They said that they would not bow down to any unilateral decision of the Centre taken keeping the people in dark.

The leaders said that the identity of around 1.5 crores Bengali speaking people is under threat following the reported statement of Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, that his government would have no objection to the ULFA’s demand of ‘tribal state’ or to give Assam the status of ‘tribal state.’ The majority of the population will face difficulty in getting jobs and they would be deprived from different constitutional rights. The move will create a restless situation in the entire State. They opined that in the larger interest of the people and to maintain tranquility and peace, the Government should ignore such demands of the pro–talks of ULFA.

A copy of the memorandum was also sent to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi and to president of pro–talks ULFA, Aravinda Rajkhowa.

 The leaders who spoke on the occasion included Ataur Rehman Mazarbhuiya, AIUDF MLA of Katigorah, Paritosh Paul Choudhury, a senior citizen and a journalist, and others.

Source:
http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=165544&dtP=2013-07-20&ppr=1#165544

Borkhola MLA Rumi Nath

Denizens of Borkhola bring corruption charges against MLA Rumi Nath

SILCHAR, July 19: Cachar Social Development Organization, an NGO, has come out with all guns blazing at Rumi Nath, MLA, Borkhola, alleging her to be involved in “siphoning off government funds” meant for different schemes and projects.

Addressing a press meet held here today at Silchar Press Club, Jamal Uddin Barbhuiya, president, said they had come to know through RTI that a total of 73 projects under Borkhola MLA fund scheme were implemented, but surprisingly nothing had been done in reality against these projects. He added to say that in between 2008–2009 and 2011–2012, crores of funds allocated for different projects were allegedly siphoned off by the MLA.

According to the information revealed through RTI, an amount of Rs 60,000 was allocated for the construction of waiting shed at Daily Bazar under Srikona GP and other different place in Borkhola constituency. But, as Uddin Barbhuiya pointed out, no waiting shed had been built in those places.

He said that according to the papers, funds had been showed to be utilized for different projects, but no work was done which tells the entire tale.

He alleged that MLA was indulged in all sorts of “immoral activities”. “The Kalpataru scheme launched by Tarun Gogoi with a view to extend financial assistance to the youth under (BPL) also not properly implemented in Borkhola.”

“The cohorts of the MLA even demand money from the people in order to reward them different schemes. There are so many instances where the genuine candidates were deprived from their legitimate rights,” he said. Jamal pointed out that everything is being done with the full consent of Borkhola MLA.

In the morning, the members of Cachar Social Development Organization today submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, demanding stern action against the culprits involved in the siphoning of government funds. They served an ultimatum that if the guilty are not booked within ten days they would launch democratic movement. A PIL will also be filed in Gauhati High Court to unearth the corruption.

Among others present at the press meet included Nur Nahar Begum Laskar, zilla parishad member, South Borkhola, Samsuddin Laskar, secretary, Cachar Social Development Organization, etc.

Source: The Sentinel
http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=165433&dtP=2013-07-19&ppr=1#165433

Police failure to nab the murder of CPI-ML leader Gangaram Kaul

CPI (ML) activists participating in a dharna programme in front of the DC’s office in Dibrugarh on Tuesday, in protest against police failure to nab the accused involved in the murder of CPI-ML leader Gangaram Kaul. (Sentinel)

Firewood logs illegally ferried in small country boats along the Brahmaputra river in Dibrugarh

Firewood logs illegally ferried in small country boats along the Brahmaputra river in Dibrugarh on Tuesday. (Sentinel)