Centre’s stand on land swap deal irks AASU, AGP

As reported in local English Daily ' The Assam Tribune' : GUWAHATI, Dec 1 – Criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by different parties and organisations continued today over his comments on the land swap deal with Bangladesh. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has accused the Prime Minister of maintaining double standards, while the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) will launch a movement against the deal from tomorrow. Addressing a press conference today, AGP general secretary Dr Kamala Kalita said that the regional party would start a movement the day the Central Government places the Bill in this regard in the Parliament. He said the Prime Minister and his party betrayed the people of Assam on the issue. The AGP general secretary pointed out that during the UPA regime, the BJP had opposed the land swap deal and the party even called for a bandh. The BJP also assured that the party would oppose the Bill in the select committee of the Parliament and the same would never be allowed to be passed in the Parliament. During the election rallies, Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the party had also opposed the deal. But unfortunately, they changed their stand within six months of coming to power, which exposed the double standard of the national party, he added. Dr Kalita further said that the people of Assam had very high expectations of Modi’s first visit to the State after assuming office as the Prime Minister. The people expected that the Prime Minister would make some announcements on the burning problems facing the State, but they were totally disappointed as Modi did not make any such announcement, he said. Meanwhile, the AASU today announced an agitational programme from tomorrow against the Government’s stand on the land swap deal. Members of the AASU will stage demonstrations in all the district and sub-divisional headquarters of the State from 11 am tomorrow. The AASU, in a statement, asserted that it would never allow handing over of Assam’s land to Bangladesh. The organisation said that the Government should take effective steps to seal the international border without handing over Assam’s land to the neighbouring country. The AASU pointed out that the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi signed the land swap deal with Bangladesh without taking the people of the State into confidence. During that time, the BJP had called for an Assam bandh and leaders of the party hoisted the national flag at the international border to oppose the deal. But within six months of coming to power, the BJP changed its stand and decided to go ahead with the deal. It may be mentioned here that while addressing a rally of the BJP workers, the Prime Minister announced yesterday that the land swap deal would be beneficial for the State in the long run.