From: indu@iss700.Columbia.NCR.COM ()
Subject: The Solution to Infiltration - Cong(I) report on Bangla. Problem
Originator: indu@iss700
Organization: NCR Corp, E&M-Columbia, Columbia, SC
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 92 19:00:13 GMT

Friends, 
   This is the final posting on this topic. The Cong(I) commitee proposes the 
   solutions to this problem. It also warns that  if these are not taken care
   of these may turn this already volatile situation OUT OF OUR HANDS.

   The importance attached to this is known by the  very fact that, this report
   is currently submitted to the PRIME MINISTER and the HOME MINISTER, apart
   from FORIEGN OFFICE. The Congress General secretaries from the  
   states involved are also alarmed over the way, people are turning away from 
   Congress, for its inactivity in these areas. 

   BJP has threatened top undertake a Rath yatra to high light this problem.
   This report also hilights the spread of BJP in these areas. Especially in 
   West Bengal, where it is  posing itself as an Ideological alternative to 
   both Cingress and Communists.  Its stand on the  Bangladeshi infiltration 
   is being welcomed by people too.
   
   I would like hear suggestions  from sci'ians regarding this, and how 
   we can help people to realise this. It is clear  from these postings, 
   that the Bangladeshi intelligentsia is not idle. WHAT CAN WE DO TO SERVE 
   THE CAUSE OF OUR COUNTRY, the BEST? How can we counter the 
   Bangladeshi propoganda? (I have  recently read a small news clipping, which 
   says,  PAKISTAN  (of all the countries)  has offered to support Bangladesh's
   cause regarding this. Not happy with the results in Kashmir and Punjab, 
   Pakistan now wants to  gain some control even in NORTH EASTERN India. For 
   this  it is ready to mend its relations with its  enenmy - BANGLADESH.)
   
-Indu


Congress-I  report on Infiltration from Bangladesh

19. We do  share  the apprehensions of the  minorities  that  any
talk  about  infiltration  tend  to make  their life miserable as
genuine   citizens  become  victims  of  the  vested    interests
operating   as  political  groups   and parties. The memory of  a
misconcieved  and misdirected movement against foriegn  nationals
is  still  fresh  in  our   mind.   But  the  emerging  trends in
Bangladesh  and  the  increasing  infiltration  have   thrown   a
challenge   to the minorities living in the region to take a wise
and far sighted stand.To turn  a blind eye or to oppose any  such
talk  using  a   forum in the name of a Particular community in a
tone and temper that strengthen  only the   fundamentlist  forces
will be height of folly.

20. From the above we may  infer 20.1   There  are  infiltrations
though it may be difficult task to examine their number.

20.2   The  infiltrations  are  not  only  from   minorities   of
Bangladesh  but  also from Muslims. In actual terms the number of
Muslims coming into India is likely to  be much  more  than   the
Non-Muslims coming into India.

20.3 An Ideological support is given to  the  phenomenon  by  the
Islamic  fundamentalists  creating  the  vision of larger Islamic
country comprising the  Bangladesh and the entire  North  Eastern
where  its economic problems will be solved and and security will
be ensured.

20.4  There  is  a   direct  correlation  between   the  rise  in
fundamentalism and the rise in  influx.

22. This  brand  of  fundamentalism  scored   a  big  success  in
elections  in  1989  and  1991. In the North  East we have a very
strong  secular  tradition  inspite  of  occasional  disturbances
caused  by  exogeneous  factors. The  fundamentalists never had a
foot hold in North  Bengal or in Assam.  But   in  the  elections
they stormed in Barak valley  and registered  their presence else
where. Even in West Bengal  they secured  11.7%   of  votes  cast
though they  could not secure any seat.

23. If secularism has to triumph  in  the  eastern part  of   the
sub continent we have  to help and support the  secular forces in
Bangladesh also.

24. Unfortunately the  Central Government of India happens to  be
suffereing  from  a  half-hearted approach or no approach to this
problem. The external affairs ministry has  not   done   what  it
should  have  done.  The  concerned  has  virtually  been  a non-
functioning one.  For years the practice has been  if  any  thing
appears  to  be  wrong   ask Mr. So-and-so of West Bengal, who is
in the lime light at that time. The desk is  not  asked  to  come
forward  with its findings. It is not realised  that the  problem
is too  deep for  an active politician however talented he is, to
understand  without expert watchers. It is also not realised that
the problem  is not merely of West Bengal but also of  others  as
well.

25. History taught us that  in  the  North  East  that  our  very
survival  is  dependant  on   the  survival of secularism and the
virus of fundamentalism cannot be allowed to persist or   spread.
As  congressmen,  we have an additional responsibility of holding
secularism as a  cherished  Ideal,  and  establishing  it  as   a
potential instrument  for seperating from religion and seperating
men  from religious gansterism. The question is: Will the  nation
fight a real battle for the victory of seculrism in this part  of
the country? We ask  this question becauseour fate hinges on  the
answer to it.

26. The subject calls for systematic search  and  projections  of
the   available  data  and  trends  into  the future to guide the
leaders in policy making. Let us not forget  that  we  have  made
most   of  our  experiment in the region to improve and stabilize
its political  and economic profiles and yet  problems   continue
to multiply.

  Let us  also caution ourselves and  the  nation on eithre  side
of  the  divide  that   the   leaders  have  to  rise to meet the
challenge or they will be way laid by history and time.   We  beg
to  the  prime  minister  to  give his personal attention to this
affair that calls for answers to India's Eastern question.

Our term of  office has come to an end.  We have  great  pleasure
in  placing  on  record  opur  gratitudes  to the chairman, Shri.
P.A.Sangma, with whom  we have  worked for three  long years, for
his never failing sympathy  and love for us and the wisdom of his
counsel with which he  has always guided us.  We also  thank  all
the  Vice-Chairmen  and all of you for your valuable co-operation
and guidance.


                            JAI HIND

Sd-/ R.C.Chiten  Jamir General Secretary

Sd-/ D.D.Pugh General Secretary

Sd-/ Lian Suama General Secretary

Sd-/ B.B.Dutta General Secretary

Sd-/ H.K.Bora General Secretary
-Indu.
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|  My  views expressed above are made on a PERSONAL basis              |
|  No Group or  Organization   can be held responsible                 |
|                                ( for those in quest of truth .......)|
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