By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,
Guwahati: The entire northeast erupted in protest following Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Vision Document for the forthcoming Delhi election that mentioned the people of north-eastern region as ‘immigrants’.
Students, different organizations and political parties across the region took out protest rallies and burnt effigies. They also demanded unconditional apology from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
AASU activists and its leaders take out candle lit protest rally condemning the tag of ‘immigrant’ on Northeastern people on BJP’s vision document, in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), a peasants’ body of Assam asked PM Narendra Modi to register a case against the BJP and also to apologize to the people of the region.
“This is not a mistake as the BJP is trying to say now. This is the mind-set of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and BJP and their approach towards the people of northeast. I would like to urge the PM Modi to register a case against the BJP for bringing such discrimination against a section of the people of the country,” Akhil Gogoi, president of KMSS said in Guwahati on Wednesday.
AGP burns effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the tag of ‘immigrant’ on North-eastern people on BJP’s vision document, in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The activists of KMSS staged protests in Guwahati by lying down on the middle of the road since morning.
Akhil Gogoi also said that the Prime Minister should apologize to the people of the region without any condition.
All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), the apex students’ body of the region taken out candle-lit rally across the state in protest. AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya termed it as ‘historical mistake’. He also said that the BJP has to pay heavy price for this.
“This is the most unfortunate incident done by the BJP so far. We have no words to condemn the incident. This is massive blow to the region. All the national political parties including Congress and BJP have been always neglecting the northeast region but terming as ‘immigrant’ of all,” Bhattacharyya said.
Meanwhile, the members of National Students Union of India (NSUI) shouted anti-BJP slogans in front of the Assam BJP headquarters in Guwahati and burnt down the BJP flags.
NSUI activists demonstrate in front of Assam BJP headquarters condemning the tag of ‘immigrant’ on North-eastern people on BJP’s vision document, in Guwahati on Wednesday.
They also demanded the resignation of Sarbananda Sonowal, union minister for sports and youth welfare and Kiren Rijiju, union minister of home for state affairs. Sonowal and Rijiju hail from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh respectively.
Other political parties including Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) also condemned the act of BJP.
On the other hand, Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Assam said that BJP’s ‘immigrant’ tag to the northeast people will help the insurgent groups to create more violence evoking their old demand independence.
AAP also said that the BJP has done it deliberately to unsettle the peace and harmony in the region.
“We cannot accept their excuse of it being a printing mistake. They have done it deliberately to unsettle the peace and harmony of the region. All the insurgent groups including ULFA, NSCN and others will get motivated by such behavior of BJP,” said AAP state spokesperson Manoram Gogoi.
The AAP leadership also demanded apology at least from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Delhi’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi.
The activists of KMSS lay down on the road in protest against the tag of ‘immigrant’ on Northeastern people on BJP’s vision document, in Guwahati on Wednesday.
“We urge the people of the region to stand united and raise voice against BJP. We also support all the organizations and groups who have been staging protest across the state,” Gogoi added.
On the Delhi election, Gogoi said his party has bright chances and it increased further after the declaration of CM candidature – Kiran Bedi. “It brought divisions and in-fighting as many BJP workers were offended,” he said.
Later, however, the BJP has released a ‘rectified’ version where they have mentioned as the people of northeast. The BJP’s vision document earlier termed Northeastern people as ‘immigrants’.
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