Guwahati, 26 March (HS): Assam BJP President and Member of Parliament Dilip Saikia on Thursday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the rights, identity, and heritage of the indigenous people of Assam.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State Headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhavan in Guwahati, Saikia said that since the days of the historic Assam Movement, the BJP has consistently stood in solidarity with the people of the state. He recalled that during the controversial 1983 elections, the party had boycotted the polls in respect of public sentiment, while accusing leftist and “pseudo-secular” forces of opposing the movement and participating in the electoral process.

Saikia further stated that the discriminatory nature of the IMDT Act had been firmly established by the Supreme Court, and alleged that under Congress patronage, the AIUDF led by Badruddin Ajmal expanded its influence in minority-dominated regions. He claimed that prolonged Congress rule until 2016 led to governance failures, which complicated crucial processes like the NRC.

Alleging vote-bank politics, Saikia said Congress facilitated the settlement of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the state, adding that many in the younger generation remain unaware of these developments. He stressed the need to bring such issues into public discourse.

Taking a dig at Congress’s slogan “Natun Bor Asom,” Saikia claimed that during its tenure, large tracts of government land were handed over to illegal settlers. He highlighted that after eviction drives initiated in Batadrava in 2016, the BJP government developed the Srimanta Sankardeva Abirbhav Kshetra at the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva at a cost of ₹217 crore.

He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, around 1.5 lakh bighas of government land have been freed from encroachment over the past five years. Saikia also alleged that the Congress’s “Natun Bor Asom” vision aims to protect illegal settlers at the cost of indigenous communities.

Reaffirming the party’s stance, Saikia said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government, the BJP will continue its efforts to preserve Assam’s cultural identity and ensure the primacy of its indigenous people.---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash