Assam Assembly today witnessed verbal exchanges between former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary over illegal immigrants issue with the latter claiming that Mahanta was asking questions without "trying to understand".
Mahanta, on his part, asked the Parliamentary Affairs minister to refrain from making such statements on such a serious issue.
The exchanges took place when the senior leader of the ruling BJP's ally AGP raised the issue of granting Indian citizenship to immigrants during the Question Hour.
Mahanta wanted to know Assam government's stand on the Centre's reported move to grant citizenship to religious minorities of Bangladesh and whether the state will raise its voice against any such "burden".
"There has been no written document by the Centre on this issue. So there is no question of any burden. If any such proposal comes in future, then we will discuss. So the question of informing the Centre does not arise now," Patowary replied.
On this, the former chief minister said the last census published data of religious minorities staying in the country and hence the question remains valid.
"There are 1.72 crore Hindus in Bangladesh at present. Will India ask Bangladesh to give security to them? Will the state government tell the Centre to implement the Assam Accord, because only this will solve the problem," he added.
Patowary countered by saying that even if India decides to tell Bangladesh to give security to minority Hindus there, it will actually depend on the neighbouring country to ensure their protection.
"The (bill to amend) Citizenship Act has been brought in Parliament, but it is not passed yet. So there is no point talking about it. Also the notification is about those people who come to India under religious persecution can apply for long-term visa or not," he added.
Patowary, who was once a minister in Mahanta's cabinet, further said the notification is for pan-India and there is no question of burdening Assam with minority immigrants.
(Reopens CES7)
Mahanta said, "Whatever you are talking is applicable for legal migrants and visitors. But no one comes in this way, all come illegally. What will happen to them and what is your step? According to us, Assam Accord is the only solution and so will the state government ask the Centre for its speedy implementation?"
Visibly annoyed Patowary again rose to reply to the senior leader of the alliance partner and criticised Mahanta for his repeated queries.
"Speaker sir, Mahanta himself was two-time CM. He knows everything and how Assam Accord is being implemented as he was one of the signatories. If he keeps asking questions despite knowing everything, what can I say? He is not trying to understand," the Minister said.
Though Mahanta and some members were seen laughing as Patowary made the observations, the former Chief Minister said, "I know everything and that is why I have asked.
"The illegal immigration problem is very serious and will Assam government tell the Centre about this? So stop making such statements," Mahanta said.
During the discussion, Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised during campaigning of last Lok Sabha polls that illegal immigrants problem would be solved if BJP came to power.
"Now BJP is in power in both Centre and State. So we request both the governments to solve the problem as soon as possible," he added.
Raising the 'D' Voter issue, BJP MLA Shiladitya Dev said usually Bengali speaking Hindus are harassed in the name of investigation and requested the government to take step in this direction.
Patowary said 'D' Voters were identified in the electoral rolls prepared by the Election Commission of India on the basis of proper verification regarding their citizenship of India in 1998.
"Later in 2011, the Gauhati High Court also made an order tthat those persons should also be identified as 'D' Voters against whom cases are pending in the Foreigner's Tribunals for determination of their citizenship of India till disposal of the case finally.
"Therefore, the question of harassment in the name of 'D' Voters is not correct.
Identification of 'D' Voters is done only as per laid down procedure," he added.
In a written reply to a query by Congress MLA Wazed Ali Choudhury, Patowary informed the house that there are a toatl of 1,36,448 'D' Voters in the state at present.
