Repeal Of Illegal Migrants Act Unlikely

The Congress has virtually vetoed the Acts repeal by saying that any such move would be construed as an abject surrender to the pressure of the BJP.

The Act is seen by various quarters in Assam as one which actually protects the illegal migrant rather than detecting him and helping his deportation. During its first essay in office (1985-1990), the AGP had led the clamour for its repeal since throughout its tenure, no more than a few hundred were finally detected as illegal migrants by the arduous process involved.

The situation now, however, is different. Even though Gowda made the announcement in Guwahati during his visit, there were quite a few within the AGP whose zeal for the acts repeal has waned considerably. This is because the AGP has secured the support of the minority community during assembly elections early this year, and is indeed in office with their support.

The situation has reached such a stage that even the hardliners among those who were at the helm of the six-year Assam agitation have now reconciled to the presence of lakhs and lakhs of illegal migrants in the state. The issue, however, continues to be an emotive one, and once again the All Assam Students Union tried to bring it to the forefront prior to the recent byelections in the state.

Gowda apparently made the promise in view of the demand by the AASU and the state unit of the BJP; the formers demand seen to be more as a ploy to come to centrastage of Assam politics. With the AGP being a prominent constituent of the United Front government, and its current cool attitude towards the acts repeal, Gowda is unlikely to carry out the promise during the forthcoming winter session of parliament.

Already, a welter of protest has broken out among the minority organisations in Assam, including those supporting the AGP government. AGP sources said at best, the government could introduce a bill for the acts repeal, knowing full well that it would not be passed. This way, the government could at least demonstrate its effort even though it would lack any conviction.

The CWC resolution on the issue said: The CWC totally opposes this decision of the government and urges upon the central government not to pursue this decision... There is no reason whatsoever for repealing this act at this stage. The serious consequences of repealing the act would be to reverse the process of communal and ethnic harmony among various sections of the society sought to be achieved through this act..

Therefore, repealing this act at this stage would be construed as an abject surrender to the pressure of BJP. The committee resolves that this repealing legislation will be opposed as and when it is introduced and directs the Congress parliamentary party to act accordingly.