GUWAHATI, March 7 ? The All Assam Students? Union (AASU) has prepared a white paper on the State as well as the Central Governments for their failure in implementing the historic Assam Accord. A copy of the white paper has already been submitted to the State Government. Addressing a press conference here today, AASU?s adviser and president, Sri Samujjal Bhattacharyya and Sri Prabin Boro respectively, informed that they would organise a seminar at New Delhi in April to launch a nation-wide campaign against the Government?s lackadaisical attitude towards implementing the Accord. ?Apart from the Accord, other burning issues of the State would figure in the seminar,? the leaders said. In this context, they revealed that even after 16 years of signing of the Assam Accord, no Government has been sincere to implement the clauses which is a matter of concern.
?According to the Accord, a separate list of foreigners was to be prepared from 1966 to 1971, but strongly enough no action has been initiated,? they said, adding that erection of fencing and construction of roads are yet to be completed despite repeated demands from the AASU. Disappointed with the Government?s inaction, the leaders set a deadline within six months to complete the work, failing which the AASU would launch a vigorous agitation. ?If the Centre can fence the Indo-Pak border, then why similar action has not been initiated along the Indo-Bangla border,? the leaders asked.
Criticising the political parties of the State, Sri Bhattacharyya and Sri Boro said ?the political parties are now banking on the minority voters and hence they do not want to implement the Accord.? Sri Amiyo Kumar Bhuyan, general secretary of the AASU who was present in the press conference, criticised the State Government for its failure in providing free textbooks to the students and resolving the demands of the college and Operation Black Board teachers. He said that the members of the AASU would stage sit-in demonstration throughout the State tomorrow protesting against the Education Department?s failure in providing free textbooks. Sri Bhuyan also alleged that the State Government has ignored the burning problems of the State. He further revealed that AASU wants a concrete reply from the Centre about the implementation of the Accord.