I congratulate the BJP and its alliance partners on their historic mandate to rule Assam for the next five years. One hopes that they will focus on good governance and avoid factionalism. The victors must not become complacent or arrogance. Chief Minister-elect Sarbanand Sonowal has said that he will seal the Assam-Bangladesh border in two years — that’s fine, but he needs to understand why Bangladeshis move out of their country.
Religious persecution in Bangladesh of Hindus is the first reason. This is why even until a few decades ago, immigrants from Bangladesh were almost exclusively Hindu. The new Government in Assam should highlight this as a human rights issue and pursue it in all seriousness.
However, in recent years, many Muslims from Bangladesh have also crossed the border. They are economic refugees and highlight the second factor for migration. They have to be dealt with accordingly, keeping all aspects in mind.