VHP harps on illegal B’deshis, Chinese dams, Majuli

Guwahati, July 28: At the meeting of the governing council of Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Guwahati on Saturday, several resolutions were taken, including some on Assam.

VHP secretary general Champat Rai said, ‘‘The VHP is very concerned about the influx of illegal Bangladeshis to Assam. We have taken a resolution that the Hindus who have fled Bangladesh due to persecution in that country and entered Assam should be given citizenship and landed property.

"These Hindus have been forced to leave Bangladesh due to the atrocities unleashed on them both by Islamic fanatics and the establishment in that country. These Hindus should not be called D–voters.’’

Rai said that the VHP had held some discussion on some vital issues affecting the country. ‘‘China has been making incursions in Ladhak, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. This is owing to the weak policy of the UPA government. China has been building huge dams on the Brahmaputra in Tibet, which has affected the flow of the river downstream. This will create a huge ecological imbalance in the Northeast, he said.

This will also affect its economy. There should be a joint monitoring system between India and China as far as the Chinese dams on the Brahmaputra are concerned. There are also some militant outfits in the Northeast who have forged ties with certain Chinese elements. The Centre should look into this issue and have a discussion with Beijing.’’

On the issue of Majuli, Rai said, ‘‘Majuli is home to a whole lot of xatras. Due to the erosion triggered by the Brahmaputra in Majuli, there is  now a huge threat to these valuable xatras. The government must initiate concrete steps to save Majuli. This river island should be declared a World Heritage Site.

The xatras of Majuli and in other parts of the State are like centres of pilgrimage for Hindu people. But illegal Bangladeshis have encroached upon 7,552 bighas of lands belonging to 43 xatras. Our demand before the Assam government is that these encroachers should be arrested and the encroached lands be freed.’’