The question is whether this is the beginning of an end? We will come to a conclusion in the later part. Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is a political party that changed the entire political scenario in Assam during the 80’s era. AGP was formed in the year 1985 in Golaghat. Golaghat is the same place where Ajanta Neog from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for 2021 Assam elections and AGP has compromised with BJP for this seat including many more in the upcoming elections.
AGP was formed as a result of Assam Agitation which went on for six long years against the illegal infiltration of foreigners from Bangladesh into Assam. AGP stood strong on the foundation made by 855 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Assam Agitation in the hope of an infiltration free Assam. After the dusk of the Historic Movement there was a new dawn of Regionalism in Assam. Then the AGP has formed Government twice from 1985 to 1989 and from 1996 to 2001.
Now coming directly to 2016 elections, where AGP again came to power with the BJP led government. The new government was formed with big promises to implement the Assam Accord and bring in development throughout the state of Assam.
The BJP-AGP led government again used Assam Agitation as a foundation to form their government in 2016 and then shook the entire foundation by bringing up the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and played with the emotions of every indigenous people of Assam. Initially the leaders of AGP took a stand against the bill but eventually it turned out that the leaders were just sleepwalking and were forced to go back to their bed by the Delhi High Command. And to which they agreed instantly putting their heads on the pillow of power and money and slept peacefully. While the grass root level workers of AGP kept protesting against the bill which aimed at destroying culture, language and threaten identity and is against the indigenous community of Assam, the leadership of AGP slept like the sleeping demon “Kumbhakarna”.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests unfolded all over Assam and eventually throughout India. Everybody from children to youngsters to senior citizens were on the roads protesting against this act that was forcefully imposed on the people of India. Even in “Ramayana” sleeping demon “Kumbhakarna” woke up after one thousand elephants walked over him but the AGP leaders never woke up even after the number of martyrs increased from 855 to 860 after the CAA protest.
As Lord Acton rightly said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The lessons that were being taught while growing up by the motherland Assam to his son (AGP), today are being torn apart by the same son and he left his mother behind to burn with deceit, dishonesty, hypocrisy, treachery. The tears of his own motherland could not stop him from taking the path of destruction. There was a time when national party like BJP appealed to AGP requesting for coalition Government and today the tables have turned where AGP is given seats to contest election according to the will of BJP and AGP could not even utter a single word. The present political scenario in Assam has shown where AGP as a regional political party stands. They do not have a say on anything that is going against the Assam Accord which was their main political agenda all these years and they have surrendered themselves to the ruling party in the center. AGP is nothing but just a puppet of BJP and is moved by strings leading from the limbs to a control or crutch held by a manipulator. This shows how Karma works. The son, who left his mother to burn, is burning himself and cannot even ask for help. Somebody said it very well that whatever your Karma is, either good or bad, you are going to taste the fruit of it in this lifetime itself. Is this the answer to the question we started with? Is this the beginning of an end for AGP or Regionalism in Assam?
In both the cases, I will be upset. As an indigenous person of Assam having self respect, I also had that love and respect for the political party which once stood by the people of Assam but for how long now? It is not easy to watch one’s own motherland to burn into ashes. So, as it was shown in the movie Mother India where the mother had to punish her child to stop him from being any more evil and causing harm to the society, it is time for the people of Assam to decide and make a change. People of Assam should set an exemplary punishment for the wrong deeds of this so called political party which is being run by only few greedy and power hungry people. This will act as an example for the newly formed regional parties to never derail from their promises and never underestimate the people of Assam.
Also, the people of Assam should be very critical with the working of the newly formed regional political parties. Hopefully these new regional political parties bring about the changes which could not be brought during the tenure of BJP-AGP led Government. We are in the need of strong regional leaders who do not compromise with his principles. Leaders who can put up the demands and compel the centre to give us what is rightfully ours.
Assam has already been unjustly treated for long years and now it is time to take what we deserve. As a conclusion, it will be very much appropriate to mention certain lines of the very famous song “Ami Asomiya” by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, “Ami Asomiya nohoudukhia buli xantona lobhile nohobo, ajir Asomiyai nijok nisinile Asom rokhatole jabo”.
(The author is currently practicing as an Advocate in Gauhati High Court. The views expressed in the article are his own.)