AASU demands immediate halt of Centre's land swapping move

Guwahati: The All Assam Students Union today demonstrated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the Centre would go ahead with the land swapping agreement with Bangladesh giving away some land of the state in exchange of some from the neighbouring country. “In his election campaign meetings here, Modi had given the assurance that Assam’s land will not be given to Bangladesh. After the elections he should have kept his word. This is not acceptable,” All Assam Students Union (AASU) adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjee said.[caption id=“attachment_1831433” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AASU logo. Image courtesy AASU webiste[/caption] The AASU staged sit-in demonstrations across the state and burnt effigies of the prime minister asserting that not an inch of Assam’s land would be allowed to be given away to the neighbouring country. “We demand that the land swapping move be halted immediately. Assam’s land has to be kept in Assam. The MPs from Assam should oppose this move of the government,” Bhattacharjee said. The AASU had spearheaded a six-year long agitation against illegal migrants from Bangladesh in the 80’s. For a permanent solution of the infiltration problem in Assam, Modi said in Guwahati on Tuesday that land swapping would be done for achieving a permanent solution. “I know the sentiments of the Assamese people regarding the land swapping deal. I assure you, we will move ahead considering India and Assam’s welfare. Assam will gain in the long term even if it looks like losing now,” the prime minister had said. PTI