Assam government remembers the indigenous only before elections: Upamanyu Hazarika

Senior advocate and convenor of the Prabajan Virodhi Manch Upamanyu Hazarika on Friday said that indigenous are remembered only before elections. He cited the case of Late Arnamai I Bora. The State  Government has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the family of Late Arnamai Borah for her death by  murder. Arnamai Borah was murdered on 31st of May 2017 in Jomunamukh where she was serving as headmistress of a Government lower primary school. Why has the Government suddenly woken up after more than 3 years of her murder towards giving compensation? Is it because of the loss of indigenous support and the close proximity of the forth coming assembly elections? There seems to be no other explanation. It is only before elections that our leaders remember the indigenous people, asked Hazarika.

Hazarika added that the response of the Govt towards indigenous and those of Bangladeshi origin in terms of any Govt benefits is vastly different, the latter being given preferential treatment.  This is evident from the two contrasting cases of Late Borah and Lt Lafikul Islam who also was killed around the same time.

Lt. Lafikul Islam, president of ABMSU was killed on 1st of August 2017, two months after that of Borah.

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Immediately upon Lafikul’s death, three cabinet ministers, senior Govt and police officials went to his house the very next day, offered compensation of Rs 10 Lakhs and two govt jobs to members of his family.  Lt Shri Islam was not even a Govt employee to be entitled as per existing rules for compassionate appointment to his family members.

On the other hand, in the case of Lt Borah, being a serving a Govt employee, her children, and in her case, her daughter entitled to companionate employment, of which even after her making an application was rejected. It is relevant that no one, no minister, official visited her family after her murder.. Her brutal rape and murder has severe repercussions for the remaining 20% indigenous population in Jamunamukh, making them insecure and will be forced to leave their homeland in the near future.

When Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma, sometime in early part of 2019 shed crocodile tears upon the murder Lt. Shmt Borah towards invoking indigenous support, he had no answer as to why the compassionate appointment due to Shmt Borah’s daughter was denied, said Hazarika.

Hazarika said that it has been the consistent behaviour of the Chief Minister and leaders of present Govt that they will pander only to the Bangladeshi and hold out false assurances and promises to the indigenous before an election.          

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