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New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Massive eviction drive underway in Assam's Golaghat; over 1500 Muslim families to be affected
"Where will we go from here? My father had come from Nagaon district around 40 years ago, but I was born here. We were brought here during the 1980s to protect the forest land from encroachment from Nagaland," said Ali Kazi, who also received an eviction notice. He claimed that most of the alleged encroachers' previous generation was settled in the forest area by the Janata Party government, headed by ex-CM Golap Borbora, in 1978-79 and the first AGP government, which came to power in 1985. Notably, the assembly was informed in March that almost 83,000 hectares of land belonging to Assam were being occupied by four neighbouring states. It was also stated that Nagaland captured the highest amount of land in Assam -- 59,490.21 hectares. Kazi claimed, "We have been cooperating with the authorities in this eviction drive. We requested them to settle us somewhere else, but they refused. We now have no option but to stay under tents. We are not even given drinking water; forget about food. It's very inhuman." Another eviction victim, Mamtaj Ali, asked, "If we were illegal settlers, how did we get electricity connections? Why did the government open schools and give us JJM connections? We were also given houses under PM Awas Yojana." When asked about these government infrastructure, a senior official of the forest department accepted that such facilities were provided by the authorities, and some of these installations were made even after 2016 when the BJP came to power for the first time in Assam. "I do not know why these were sanctioned and established in this area. These were made before I came here," he added. There were mosques and madrassa for people belonging to the Muslim community, while churches were set up by the Bodo people, the official said. For carrying out the eviction drive across 12 villages, the authorities divided the entire area into nine zones and conducted a survey accordingly, he added. "An extensive land survey of around 30 villages of the Rengma Reserve Forest was done.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PARTLY FACETIOUS: The West has much to learn from us about the criticality of forms
'President Trump said no one thanked the US for giving food aid to Gaza?' 'We all have our own perspective on…' 'And he said that…' 'OK I know where you are going with this, granted that US policy on Israel first has not changed and is not expected to change because of the Israel lobby and this is in spite of growing disenchantment within President Trump's supporters for giving billions of aid and military hardware to Israel when normal Americans are struggling to make ends meet and…' 'I can relate to that, I mean irrespective of whether there is a democratic system in place or an autocratic one or as we are increasingly seeing globally a demauto (democratic plus autocratic) system in place — defined as elected by the people and following policies of the influential, shutting down criticism through…' 'I hope this is not an oblique reference to Forms 45 and 47?' 'The West has much to learn from us about the criticality of forms.' 'Don't be facetious.' 'Excuse me, but our system has withstood the challenges posed by time, but reports suggest that the US system is under threat from within, though I reckon it will take another decade or so…' 'Would there be any Gazans left alive, I mean at the rate Israel is killing Gazans?' 'That's a good question but when I mentioned President Trump complaining that no one had thanked him for giving, I don't recall now, around 40 million-dollar food aid to Gaza…' 'Which clearly is not reaching them, so who is…' 'Please get some perspective. The question you need to ask is who in the world is…' 'Who is pocketing this aid? Well, maybe the US-Israeli run Food Foundation…' 'Shush, the question is why did not a single Western media outlet representative ask President Trump the question as to the success of the aid — how many have received……' 'That would require an independent audit, and I am not sure…' 'Why don't we send our Auditor General (AGP) for that purpose.' 'But then what will we do…' 'He is contributing to climate degradation in Pakistan – he publishes voluminous reports and recommendations which are roundly ignored, that's wastage of paper and paper comes from trees……' 'Don't be facetious.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Politics of polarisation in Assam
Following India's independence, Assam has consistently experienced religious, linguistic, ethnic, and sub-regional differences, which have led to violence at times. Debates that have occupied the social space include the Ujoni (Upper Assam) temperament versus the Namoni (Lower Assam) disposition and the khilonjia (indigenous) versus the bohiragata (outsiders). However, none of them has been as polarising as the one between the indigenous and the Miya, a pejorative term for Muslims with roots in Bangladesh. This divide is rooted in the fear that Bangladeshi nationals will take over Assam. This fear gained currency during the Assam agitation (1979-85), which led to the signing of the Assam Accord of 1985. The accord prescribed the detection, deletion (from electoral rolls), and deportation of foreigners who entered Assam on or after March 25, 1971; constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards for the Assamese people; and restricting the acquisition of immovable property by foreigners, which invariably meant Bangladeshi people. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh supported the movement. The Bangladeshi issue became an election staple from the controversial 1983 election, in which the Bengali-speaking Muslims, who are dominant voters in at least 35 of Assam's 126 Assembly seats, participated despite a boycott call by the pro-agitation groups. The issue dominated the 1985 election, won by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which mostly comprised leaders of the agitation. It also birthed the United Minorities Front, whose rise stoked the perceived demographic threat, before its space was taken up by the All India United Democratic Front. The Bangladeshi or 'illegal immigrants' issue was in the sub-text of the promise to protect 'jaati (race), maati (land), bheti (hearth)' that helped the BJP form its first government in Assam in 2016. The party's minor allies were the AGP and the Bodoland People's Front, which ruled over a tribal council with a history of conflicts between the dominant tribe and the migrant Muslims. The BJP-led government showed it meant business by carrying out the first eviction drive in three fringe villages of Kaziranga National Park in September 2016, almost a year after the Gauhati High Court ordered the reclamation of encroached land. Two people were killed during the eviction of mostly migrant Muslims. A similar exercise to evict families from forest land, grazing land, and government revenue land was carried out in at least 12 places across the State before the BJP retained power in 2021 and Himanta Biswa Sarma became the Chief Minister. Despite strong sentiments against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, the party came to power relying on vikas (development) to turn the tide in its favour. A former Congress leader, Mr. Sarma has been maintaining that the BJP does not need the votes of Muslims to win elections, while taking care to distinguish the Bengali Muslims from the khilonjia Assamese Muslims. The eviction drive became more aggressive under him. In September 2021, an eviction drive in Gorukhuti in Darrang district claimed two lives. It was paused after a few more operations. The drive was restarted in June this year across several districts of western and north-eastern Assam. Citing official documents, Mr. Sarma has said that 1.29 lakh bighas have been cleared of squatters so far, and about 29 lakh bighas of land are still under encroachment in the State. He made it more than apparent who his government is against by calling encroachment of land a 'jihad to finish the State'. He linked it to an impending demographic shift, which he said would make the Assamese people a minority by 2041. The Chief Minister's detractors say the eviction is being carried out to clear land for corporate houses, including the Adani Group, which is eyeing a thermal power project in western Assam. This, they say, is why people have been moved out of at least 49,000 bighas where indigenous communities resided. While the eviction of other communities has been low-key, those against Muslims have had more traction because, as MLA Akhil Gogoi said, evicting minorities paves the way for the politics of polarisation so that the Hindu voters back the BJP, especially in Ujoni, where the party is facing challenges. The State elections are less than a year away.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
FBR to recover FED dues from PIA post sell-off
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will recover outstanding amount of Federal Excise Duty (FED) from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) after its privatization. Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Inland Revenue (Operations) Dr. Hamid Ateeq Sarwar was responding to an audit objection of Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP). The issue came to the light during the last meeting of the Public Accounts Committee held on FBR Audit Paras pending for the last 10-15 years. SRO 706 (I)/2010 tractor tax refund: FBR to seek Law Division's opinion AGP officials were of the view that the recovery of the FED is necessary as it was collected from consumers. The general public has paid this amount of the FED which was not a government grant issued to the national flag carrier. FBR Member Inland Revenue (Operations) said that if we do FED recovery from PIA at this stage, it would result in closure of the operations of the airline. Therefore, the FED should be recovered after privatization of the PIA. The status and the process of the privatization of the PIA could be updated by the Privatization Commission, FBR member added. There is an amount of nearly Rs 920 million outstanding against the said airline, according to the AGP officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AGP grassroots push for more seats ahead of Assam polls, declare candidates in some constituencies
Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) workers are pushing for more seats in the upcoming Assam assembly polls, with some even naming potential candidates. Despite internal pressure and seat demands, AGP President Atul Bora denies any rebellion within the party. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Guwahati: Grassroot workers of BJP's ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) have started flexing their muscles for they want more seats for the regional party in the next year's assembly polls. In some seats the workers have even declared probable 2021 assembly polls the regional party AGP contested 29 while in contested 26 seats directly and in three seats in a friendly fight. It won nine seats. The party has been in alliance with BJP since 2014. Assembly polls in Assam are likely to take place early next year.A section of AGP workers is seeking Majuli seats besides Lakhimpur, Bihpuria, Ranganadi, Gohpur and Nalbari. The workers are also seeking to contest six assembly seats in Kamrup districts Recently AGP President Atul Bora was visiting different places and talking to the workers and pacifying recently claimed that there is no rebellion in the party. Such discussions are going on only in the media. 'Our grassroots workers are good; some leaders are aspiring for these seats. In alliance there is give and take.'Recently Satyabrata Kalita former MLA announced that he will contest in 2026 from Kamalpur. In 2011 this seat was given to BJP and the party wrested Thursday AGP president and State Cabinet Minister Atul Bora led a party delegation to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. They also met BJP national JP AGP delegation included working president and State Minister Keshab Mahanta , AGP general secretary and newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Birendra Prasad Baishya, and senior AGP leader and Lok Sabha MP Phani Bhusan Choudhury. 'We expressed our heartfelt gratitude to Amit Shah for his unwavering support and visionary leadership, which continue to guide Assam toward lasting peace and accelerated progress,' Bora added that under the NDA Government, Assam has witnessed transformative growth, and the AGP, a proud ally of the BJP-led NDA, remains fully committed to this path of stability and development. Bora further stated that the BJP-AGP alliance will continue working in close coordination to ensure inclusive development and a brighter future for every citizen of the workers are pressing that this time Koliabor seat must have a BJP candidate. AGP's Keshav Mahanta has been winning the seat since Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that alliance with AGP is a settled fact and both parties will jointly contest the next year's assembly polls.
