It’s like “Déjà Vu” as people of Assam have once again found themselves in front of a crossroad. Like in the 80’s when the cry for an illegal influx free Assam went louder and New Delhi remained silent, people of Assam had begun its fight which led to the six-year-long Assam Movement and the formation of a regional force-Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
The birth of AGP was expected to be a game-changer for the state when the party came to power in 1986. The irony was that though AGP came as the alternate to the then Congress’s alleged supremacy, nothing much changed. The Assam Accord which turned 35 on this August 15 is yet to see the light in its true sense and the state’s politics continue to remain ‘infiltration’ centric.
The relevance of a regional force then was completed with the formation of AGP. But with the AGP leadership failed to meet up the people’s expectation was soon replaced by Congress. The need for change was felt again as Congress in its long tenure too did not respond wisely and people of Assam once again decided to bring changes and put BJP into power in 2016 toppling the Congress reign.
But like history repeats itself, once again the people of Assam were left high and dry when they find themselves in the middle of the saffron camp’s ‘Hindutva’ politics and the issue of illegal infiltration once again stirred the hornet’s nest when BJP government decided to bring Hindu Bangladeshis and granting them citizenship.
The Déjà Vu happened and once again the relevance of a regional force returns. With last year’s grim memory of a violent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest continued to haunt, talks are once again in the town to form a new-age regional party to challenge BJP.
Congress also seems to try to take advantage of the situation and to bounce back. The party has already advocated the formation of a ‘grand alliance’ with all the anti CAA forces and Badruddin Ajmal led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). The development has also created a buzz.
At the same time, All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), have initiated moves and formed a 16-member Advisory Committee that will guide the groups in taking their next major steps to safeguard the future of the indigenous people of the State.
The development is significant. As the student groups’ move is observed as a prologue to the formation of another regional party. It’s like the return of the ’80s again.
