Assam students want action on state's burning issues

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU), an influential students organisation in the state, Tuesday asked political parties and candidates to make public their plans for solving the region's burning issues.

Political parties should not only make their stand clear on the issues before the Lok Sabha polls but they should also come out with a time-bound action plan to solve the problems, AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya said.

"Election comes after every five years and the candidates make tall promises only to be forgotten after the polls. The season has come once again," he said.

Bhattacharyya appealed to the people to ask questions to the leaders during their campaign about their stands on infiltration, sealing of the Bangladesh border, erosion and floods, ethnic issues, rights over land and resources and above all a special constitutional safeguard for the people of Assam.

"They (political leaders) make lots of promises before the polls. This time, we are asking them to come out with a detailed time-bound action plan to solve the problems," he said.

"We have been demanding detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshis living in the state since 1985. However, the illegal Bangladeshis are going to vote again as nothing has been done by the elected representatives," he said.

Assam will see three-phase polling - April 7, 12 and 24 - for the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state.