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GUWAHATI, Dec 10 – The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), observing its ‘Swahid Diwas’ today, reaffirmed its stand on expulsion of illegal migrants from the State. The students’ body asked the State government and the Centre to give a specific timeframe for implementation of the Assam Accord. “The AASU is firm on its longstanding demand of making the State free from the illegal Bangladeshis and ensuring the authority of indigenous people in the State. Though 30 years have passed since the AASU started fighting for this cause and 25 years have passed of signing the Accord with the Union Government, our borders are not yet sealed to checkillegal influx, let alone the question of finding and deporting the existing illegal Bangladeshis,” said AASU advisor Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, addressing the media today.

“On the other hand, it is unfortunate and a serious lapse on the part of the State Government that even the identified illegal Bangladeshis continue to ‘vanish’ in the State,” he added.

While demanding a special package for rehabilitation of families of those who laid their lives during the movement, and those who became physically disabled, the AASU said that all the political parties forming Government in the State ignored the sacrifice of these martyrs and their families.

“Swahid Kharageswar Talukdar sacrificed his life on December 10, 1979 while participating in the Assam movement and thus the day is observed to commemorate the 855 martyrs, who sacrificed their lives fighting for the rights of the people ofAssam,” added Sankar Prasad Rai, AASU president.

The students’ body has decided to help the families of Assam movement martyrs. As part of this initiative, it announced to help the family of Girish Chandra Nath of Nagaon with a pair of bullock, the family members of Dharani Roy of Bongaingaon with cow and a calf, and the family of Gahin Deka of Nalbari with a manually-operated loom. It also promised to further help these families in future.

The AASU reiterated its demand for constitutional safeguard, inner land permit and rights of indigenous people over land and natural resources.

On the other, the Asom Gana Parishad also observed the Swahid Diwas today. In a central function held at the Khanapara Ganesh Mandir Indoor Stadium the day was observed with various programmes and prayers in the presence of the AGP leaders Chandra Mohan Patowary, Prafulla Mahanta and Sarbananda Sonowal among others, mentioned a press statement.