BJP targeting Bengali community in Assam, claims Bharatiya Gana Parishad Dal

In a press statement on April 13, spokesperson for the Bharatiya Jana Parishad Dal leveled serious accusations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, alleging deliberate attempts to marginalize and disenfranchise the Bengali community in the state.

The spokesperson stated that since the implementation of the Assam Accord, Bengalis in Assam have been living peacefully. However, the spokesperson claims that the BJP's initiatives, particularly the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Mission Basundhara, have been used to target Bengali-speaking individuals raising fears of their expulsion from the state.

Despite promises of land pattas under Mission Basundhara, the spokesperson asserted that no Bengali individual has received any land ownership documents thus far. The spokesperson accused the BJP of employing divisive tactics, particularly by categorizing Bengalis into Hindu and non-Hindu groups, thereby exacerbating tensions within the community.

Moreover, the spokesperson criticized the stringent criteria imposed by the BJP for granting citizenship to Bengali Hindus under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). They questioned the feasibility of identifying individuals from Bangladesh or Pakistan, especially in light of the existing Assam Accord regulations.

Expressing strong opposition to the implementation of the CAA, the spokesperson argued that it unfairly burdens Bengalis with proving their citizenship status repeatedly, despite their participation in the 1971 NRC. They warned that the BJP would not receive support from the Hindu Bengali community and alleged that any votes garnered would likely come from Bengalis originating from Bangladesh.