Despite the worst ever riots of Assam and the greatest exodus of history, the apathetic attitude of central and state governments, shows that they don’t care for the difficulty and hardship the sufferers are confronting with.
Congress party had raised hue and cry on the Gujarat riots and Muslim massacre but now that there is Congress rule at the centre and the state, no practical measure is being taken despite massive violence. Their attitude implies that they lack ability to take brave decisions to contain violence and alleviate miseries of victims. It seems that from Gujarat to Assam, Godhra to Bodoland Congress men put on Gandhian caps and RSS knickers.
A 3-member fact finding team of Siasat, comprising of Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, managing editor, Mr. Hayath Husain Habeeb and Mr. Abdul Waheed, visited relief camps at Kokrajhar, Jonai, and Jarak. Riot victims are living a miserable life here with the fear of dark future and are confronting with heath and hygiene problems.
At a relief camp set up at Bilaspur Public High School in Dhobari district the Siasat team found filth everywhere, people were cooking in the open area of the camp. Rain would certainly add to their woes. Lack of hygiene has resulted in profusion of mosquitoes; consequently a large number of infants are suffering from illness.
At an estimate, several infants and small kids have died due to unhygienic conditions. There is acute shortage of medicines also. Government had claimed to supply mosquito nets but no such thing has been provided. The government also claimed that more than half of the 4.80 lakh dislodged Assamese have returned to their homes but in reality inmates of just 6 to 8 relief camps out of the total 183 camps have returned to their homes.
The camps are well-nigh divided into two groups since the communal organisations such as RSS and VHP have deliberately send several bodos here while the fact is that the real number of bodo victims is quite less. Activists of Hindu organisations are spewing venom against Muslims and distributing their literature among the inmates. On the other side disappointment grips among the Muslim victims of the relief camps.
Not only Muslims but the other tribals also expressed strong anger regarding Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). This agreement was inked in 2003 at the behest of the then union home minister L K Advani and was endorsed by Tarun Gogoi despite the fact that 75 percent population opposed it. The Bodos who are 25 percent had been given many benefits and powers under the treaty. Today Bodos have arms; they have sway over administration and with their radical activities they have increased their influence to such an extent that they seek their share in land dealing, settlement of any matter and even from government employees.
Siasat team met the tribals too and talked over the treaty’s framework. The tribals expressed their anger over the matter and said that they will finalise strategy by convening a round table conference within 10 days. There exists a political rift between Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who finalized Bodo agreement and chief minister, and the innocent public is paying the price for their rift.
Siasat report