By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,
Kolkata: All India United Democratic Front along with some Left and Muslim organizations has demanded immediate seizure of arms in Bodo areas of Assam and proper rehabilitation of the riot victims whose life is becoming miserable in relief camps. They made the demand at a convention organized by the West Bengal chapter of AIUDF on 15th September here at Muslim Institute Hall and attended by several organizations including CPIML, Republican Party and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Due to clashes between Bodos and Muslims since July, over hundred people have been killed and over four lakh became homeless – about three lakh of them are Muslims and one lakh Bodos. The violence took place mainly in Kokrajhar district and affected some neighboring districts like Chirang, Dhuburi and Bongaigaon.
Speaker Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury, State president of AIUDF in a Convention against Assam killing held on 15th September, 2012 at Muslim Institute Hall, Kolkata. Organised by AIUDF, WB Unit.
AIUDF West Bengal state president Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury said the recent violence in Assam was largest in last 66 years since Independence. He alleged that Tarun Gagoi-led Congress government of Assam has failed in giving protection to the Muslims who constitute around 30 percent of the state population.
Maulana Chowdhury said: As an Indian, living in India is our fundamental rights according to Indian constitution. The constitution has given us right to stay freely as citizens with equal rights. He claimed there was a big conspiracy behind the killings and exodus of people.
Auditorium has been mourned one minute silence in memory of lost muslim in Assam Killing in a Covention held on 15th September, 2012 at Muslim Institute Hall, Kolkata.
West Bengal president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Md Nuruddin said the Bodo tribals forced a multitude of Muslim people to flee their homes. He alleged the government’s intervention has not been proper to check the violence. Whose responsibility is to maintain law and order according to our constitutions? The government has not executed its duty in proper way. We have to organize people in favour of peace and communal harmony and national integration, because we have lost faith in the ruling political party in Assam.
CPIML leader Santosh Rana said: We have seen the Nellie Massacre here when at least 300 Muslims were killed in a day. When Muslims are trying to uplift themselves in the society with proper education then they are being called foreigner with a shameful conspiracy of a communal force and separatist groups of Assam. Between 1901-1941 a portion of Muslim population came to Assam as farmer. They have been growing crops. They are not foreigners, they are also the son of our land. BJP and Assam Ganaparishad have always tried to push them in Bangladesh which is very painful and illegal way.
A Convention was held on 15th September, 2012 at Muslim Institute Hall, Kolkata by AIUDF against Muslim killing in Assam.
Former Maoist and Marxist leader Ashim Chatterjee also spoke on the occasion. He said Article 21 has not yet been implemented in the Bodo areas.
State Vice-president of AIUDF Gopal Bhattacharya, Nimai Santra, Sukritiranjan Biswas, Jamirul Hassan, Mufti Rafikul Islam, Muslim League leader Jafrulla Khan, Advocate Chandreyi Alam also participated in this convention.
Demands
The convention passed a resolution in which the house made the following demands:
–Illegal arms in Bodo areas should be seized and banned immediately
–Victims should be given sufficient compensation
–Muslims living in camps should be safely returned to their homes
–Culprits of violence should be punished