NESO calls for bandh in 6 NE states against exodus

The influential North East Students Organisation, an amalgamation of main students' bodies of all the seven northeastern states has called for a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh in six states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya -- from the 5 am on September 6 next, will hold a public rally at Guwahati in Assam on the issue of recent exodus of NE people from outside states and presence of illegal foreigners in the region.

NESO chairman Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya said that the organisation felt that the twin issues needed be highlighted loudly have led to unrest in the region that is already plagued with many problems.

"When the six states observe the bandh, we will hold a massive meeting and take out a procession in Guwahati, the gateway to NE. In order to facilitate people's participation in the rally, we have not called the bandh in Assam," the NESO leader said.

The NESO is inviting representatives of governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and all seven NE states and also the members of NE MPs' Forum to the meeting to be held on September 6 in Guwahati.

The NESO has recommended for setting up of nodal agency in all the States that witness mass exodus of panic-gripped NE people to coordinate safe return of the NE people who had fled those states leaving behind their jobs and study.

The NESO has decided to form NE people and students welfare coordination committee at its own initiative in those states for the benefit of the N-E people and students residing there. 

The NESO has expressed its gratitude to the people and governments of the affected states as well as members of both Houses of Parliament for showing their concern over the exodus NE people and standing by the people of the region.

On the issue of illegal migrants, Dr Bhattacharyya said the NESO was firm on its demand before the governments that all illegal people must leave the state and country. 
He also demanded that the government must ensure that no illegal migrants are rehabilitated in the riots-hit areas of western Assam.

The NESO demands that the Central government should facilitate a meeting of the chief ministers of all the northeastern states to work out a coordination to respond to the threat posed by the unabated illegal migration from Bangladesh to the region.

The NESO demanded immediate steps from the government of India to detect and deport all the illegal migrants especially those coming from Bangladesh and also those Bangladeshis who have gone untraced after entering the country with valid documents.