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
