GUWAHATI:
The Northeast Students’ Organisation (NESO) will stage protests in all district headquarters of the seven sister states on August 17, demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) across the Northeast.
This was informed during an executive council meeting of the NESO which was held at Hotel Prag Continental, Guwahati on August 3, where the organisation also discussed the issue of influx.
The NESO, a conglomeration of eight student organisations of the region, has also reiterated its demand for repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and introduction of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in all the states of the region.
“The unabated influx from Bangladesh is a threat to Northeast and national security. The fundamentalist and jihadi forces are growing from strength to strength only because of the influx,” NESO advisor Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya told the press.
Bhattacharyya said that the lack of political motivation to tackle the problem is the main reason behind the continued infiltration from Bangladesh.
“Assam has become a hotbed of fundamentalists and jihadi forces and although the government acknowledges it, it does not take any action on the ground,” he said.
Opposing the statement of Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be implemented once the COVID-19 vaccination ended, the student organisation vowed to oppose any move to enforce the law.
“The indigenous people of Northeast will never accept CAA. If CAA is implemented in the Northeast, which does not have Inner Line Permit (ILP) facility, the indigenous people will always have to put up with the influx of illegal Bangladeshis,” NESO chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said.
Jyrwa added that the organisation would continue to protest against the law till it was withdrawn.
Jyrwa also urged the central government to respect the sentiments of the indigenous people of Northeast and said the ILP system should be introduced across the Northeastern states.
The student body further demanded the government for full withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from all parts of the Northeastern region.
The meeting also demanded a permanent solution to the Chakma-Hajong issue of Arunachal Pradesh.
Bhattacharyya also said that the Central government should change their attitude to address the issues of the region. “Only sending cabinet ministers to the Northeast will not resolve any issue. They have to realise the problems faced by indigenous people here,” he added.