Should Rahul Gandhi Address Assam Accord and CAA Issues in Parliament?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Meeting between AJP and Rahul Gandhi highlights urgent political issues.
- Implementation of the Assam Accord and NRC updates are critical.
- CAA viewed as detrimental to indigenous rights.
- BJP government's eviction drives are criticized for lacking substance.
- Constitutional safeguards for Assam must be upheld.
New Delhi, Aug 12 (NationPress) A delegation from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), headed by party president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, recently convened with Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in the national capital. The meeting aimed to advocate for the urgent address of long-standing political matters that are pivotal to Assam's identity and historical context.
After the meeting, Gogoi stated that the group urged Rahul Gandhi to bring attention in Parliament to the execution of the Assam Accord, the enforcement of Clause 6, and the repeal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
The delegation also insisted on the immediate update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), claiming that both the state and central governments have shown a pattern of "selective neglect" regarding this issue.
"Assam has already accepted immigrants from Bangladesh who arrived before March 31, 1971, based on humanitarian grounds. After this date, no more should be accepted. Those who came after must be removed from Assam," asserted Gogoi.
Rahul Gandhi expressed his concern over the risk of disenfranchising several lakh individuals overnight and was informed about the effects of unchecked immigration on the indigenous populace.
Regarding the CAA, Gogoi labeled it a "death knell" for the indigenous communities in Assam and the broader Northeast region, urging Rahul Gandhi to voice strong objections in Parliament.
The AJP contingent included members such as Jagdish Bhuyan, Chittaranjan Basumatary, Kamalnayan Choudhury, and Jiaur Rahman.
From the Congress party, Gaurav Gogoi, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, along with Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi and Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, participated in the discussions.
Gogoi criticized the BJP government’s emphasis on eviction drives, alleging that these efforts are being portrayed as significant achievements while fundamental political issues remain unaddressed.
"Evictions are merely a legal process, not a guaranteed means to protect the indigenous population," he remarked, adding that the true safeguard lies in the complete implementation of the Assam Accord, Clause 6, and the repeal of the CAA.
He accused the government of using communal narratives surrounding evictions to divert public attention from Assam’s "crucial political questions" and cautioned that "the state’s constitutional protections must be maintained without delay."