Redefining CAA and the delusional Assamese
If NOTA had been a political party, it would have won this election.
Let me first clarify this that I am not a die hard BJP supporter. But when the only options are khai or kuwa, you are bound to choose any one.
Even before the heat of elections started back in the early 2021, the inevitable question was on everyone’s head. Does supporting BJP imply supporting CAA? Gradually, CAA supporters were categorized as anti-Assamese and before we knew it, BJP supporters implied anti Assamese. While the BJP won more than 60/126 seats, this rant has amplified asking the people who voted for BJP to not to protest against CAA anymore since we aren’t true Assamese. Amidst so much hatred and disgust hurled at that particular section of people, one question arises in my mind, which CAA are we talking about? Who cares about the CAA anymore?
It was back in the pre-independence era when the then Chief Minister of Assam, Late Syed Sadullah started the movement “grow more foods”, to immigrate people from Bangladesh(erstwhile East Bengal) with an aim to increase the population, and thereby revenue in Assam. Assam had a sparse population back then. However, this movement soon, under the action of Muslim League converted into, as the then viceroy Lord Wavell wrote in his memoirs “growing more Muslims” rather than only foods.
With the inflow of a massive immigrants from the neighboring countries, we saw the Assam Movement, also know as the Anti Foreigners Movement led by All Assam Students Union(AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad(AAGSP) back in 1979. The movement lasted for 6 years, ending with the Assam Accord(Assam Citizenship Act) in 1985 whose motive was to drive out the illegal immigrants, predominantly Bangladeshi immigrants.
But the situation now is entirely different. With the introduction of Citizenship Amendment Act, no one bothers about the the original Assam Citizenship Act anymore. While the BJP, with the alliance of AGP is dead set on getting rid of the “Bangladeshi Muslims”, the Mahajot of Congress and AIUDF is equally determined to bring back the “Bangladeshi Muslims”, more as an opposition act of BJP and to gain more Muslim vote banks. It is now more of a fight for Muslims rather than the immigrants. What was our motive? To drive out the immigrants, irrespective of their religion. Our motive had been long lost. And not one single party is responsible for it.
Another major reason was the lack of a leader in Assam. While the Congress seemed to be dealing with it’s own internal issues after the death of the former chief minister, late Tarun Gogoi, Akhil Gogoi in RD felt more of a rebellious leader. On the other hand, our dearest mama did not need any introduction. Why did BJP win in 2019 despite so much criticism. Because there yet wasn’t a leader better than Modi. Why is TMC leading in West Bengal? Because of Mamata Banerjee. Whom do we get reminded of when we talk about the politics of Assam? Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. In my first medium article I emphasized on the importance of having a leader that works as the brand for a party.
Several parties were formed just a few months prior to the elections ostensibly for no other reason but chief ministerial aspirations. There wasn’t enough time for the parties to come forward and explain what they stood for and why they were different from the others. Most voters did not even have any clue about who their candidates were or what were their credentials. This led to the voters who were even willing to vote for a change literally ended up playing ina-mina-myna-mo or pressing the NOTA button at the electoral ballot.
All through the run up to the elections, while almost all the candidates talked about jati-mati-bheti, no one bothered to elaborate on the executable actions that they aim to take in this direction. Most of the speeches were devoted to mudslinging and personal attacks on the opponents. Last minute yojanas of creating sankalps and beneficiaries out of everyone and everything with no details in plan of action or policy making swarmed both the print and television media, needless to say the speeches during election rallies. Jatir gaurav, swabhiman, atmanirbhar etc are all important but more important than these are the basic amenities of food, water, transportation and livelihood.
However, as much as the pre-election phase bought a sense of despair and political hopelessness among the Assamese, the developments under BJP rule could not be turned a blind eye.
We can’t overlook the 4000 km national highways built connecting Assam to mainland India, with the state public works department responsible for constructing around 650 km. Neither can we ignore the Dhola Sadiya or the Bogibeel bridge whose foundation was laid back in 1998 and has remained inactive since then, only to be brought into action during the BJP tenure. The construction of first ever AIIMS in Assam, along with six other medical colleges. During the past 70 years, Assam had six medical colleges. Under BJP, we got 6 more. The initiative for the First Global investor’s summit ‘ Advantage Assam’ was taken by Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Sarbananda Sonowal, focused on the geostrategic advantage of Assam in terms of pharmaceuticals and medical technology, plastics and petrochemicals, tourism, power and agriculture.
No, we aren’t ignorant enough to forget what happened during November 2019 and we shall forever oppose CAA. But we can’t, at the same time overlook the other factors. Jati-mati-bheti is just another duty of the government, not their sole duty.
