Guwahati: The Assam government has reignited a long-standing debate on immigration, asserting in the State Legislative Assembly that establishing 1971 as the cut-off year for identifying illegal migrants was a "historic error." The significant declaration came during discussions on a resolution tabled by BJP MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, which addressed crucial issues such as the publication of evacuee property details, granting land titles to eligible families, and formulating policies to prevent revenue loss.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika articulated the government's stance, highlighting that Assam has borne the substantial burden of migration from erstwhile East Pakistan, and subsequently Bangladesh, since India's Independence. He differentiated between individuals of Bangladesh origin who settled in Assam prior to 1947 or 1950 and those who entered the state in subsequent periods.
Minister Hazarika criticized the acceptance of the 1971 cut-off year under the Assam Accord, attributing it to a past administration. He underscored that the current government does not support this benchmark, questioning its fundamental rationale. The minister emphasized that Assam has been compelled to shoulder the demographic and socio-economic impact of migration that occurred after 1950.
The resolution moved by MLA Purkayastha sought comprehensive data on evacuee properties, the provision of 'pattas' (land titles) to landless families and those displaced by Partition, and the development of effective strategies to ensure proper land utilisation while preventing revenue leakage. The government's strong remarks on the 1971 cut-off during this discussion signal a potential re-evaluation of migration policies in the state.
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