Assam poll 2016: AGP promises constitutional protection for indigenous people

Guwahati: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), in its poll manifesto released on Friday, promised constitutional protection for the indigenous people of Assam, administrative reforms, creating employment and improving health and education facilities. [caption id=“attachment_2684418” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. Reuters[/caption] Releasing the manifesto, AGP president Atul Bora said his party wants constitutional protection of political, economic, social and cultural rights of the indigenous people and ensure that they have rights over land in the state. AGP, which is in alliance with BJP, wants more power for the states by decentralising departments other than external affairs and finance, Bora said. The party, which was born out of the Assam Agitation in 1985 and have been in power twice, said it will pressurise Centre for implementing the Assam Accord and detection and deportation of “foreigners”. Bora said his party would give a “clean, responsible, able and efficient government”, improve law and order situation, “free police from political pressure and make it more people-friendly”. On increasing job opportunities, AGP promised “100 percent presence of local people in central government and non-government offices” in the state. The party also continued with its opposition to China building dams on the Brahmaputra. The other poll promises of AGP include a scientific plan to stop recurring floods and erosion, industrialisation, demarcation of Assam-Bangladesh border, uniform development of all ethnic, religious and linguistic groups, special schemes for welfare of children, students, women, elderly, physically challenged, infrastructure development, protection of forests and animals. PTI