MODIJI'S BIGGEST FAVOUR TO ASSAM
By announcing that we would settle the boundary dispute with Bangladesh once and for all, even if it means exchange of land, Modiji has done the biggest favour to Assam. Let me explain, and please do not jump to conclusion before reading the entire post.
1. Look at this picture below. This is a map of an Indian enclave, within a Bangladeshi enclave, within an Indian enclave, within Bangladesh. And there are hundreds of examples like this. Even if you or I become the Prime Minister, do we think we can provide governance in places like these? Can BSF provide security?
So what is the way out? And here I am asking for your common sense, not knowledge of constitutional law. I am sure you would say that common sense dictates that we exchange land, and straighten the boundary. This is what Modiji is suggesting. Only when the boundary is straightened can BSF be made accountable for providing security.
2. Secondly, think of the people living inside the enclaves. I have visited several such Indian enclaves that are situated outside our security fence, and let me tell you that BSF shuts the gates at sundown. Moreover these enclaves do not have electricity, telephones, schools or hospitals.
Now imagine someone having a medical emergency at the dead of night. He or she has no option but to wait till sunrise. They cannot cross the enclave and go to a Bangladeshi hospital (even though Bangladesh does not have a fence) as they are Indian citizens, and they cannot come to India as BSF would not allow anybody in the darkness. Please understand: these people are Indian citizens, and access to "India" is not available to them for half the time. Is that fair?
What if you or I were born in such an enclave? What would we be have said? We would most probably have said that get us to the mainland or kick us out, but please do not keep us hanging between both countries like this.
3. How much land are we really "losing"? The Indian Express today explained the intricacies of the land swap (
http://indianexpress.com/"¦/i"¦/explained-land-swap-in-offing/). Please read it, it is very informative.
But while we consider how much land we stand to "lose" due to the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh, do you know how much land Assam has lost to erosion by the Brahmaputra? It is thousands of acres vs thousands of square kilometers. Since 1950, Assam has lost over 2500 sq km of land to the Brahmaputra, and yet nobody talks about it. And by the way, this is bigger than the size of Delhi state (1500 sq km).
4. The last point I wish to draw your attention to is our image in this world. Today 60 years of our foreign policy--mostly under the Congress--have given us a lot of dissatisfied neighbours. Today Nepal hates us, Bangladesh hates us, Myanmar hates us, Sri Lanka hates us.
Our border with Pakistan is disputed, our border with Bangaldesh is disputed, our border with China is disputed. So how long can we carry on this way? Isn't it time we settle our border disputes once and for all, and get down to the business of leading our own lives in peace?
If we in India consider ourselves the "big brother", we should learn to be compassionate and indulgent to our smaller neighbours. I would argue: what is a couple of thousand acres if we settle the boundary with Bangladesh once and for all? If after doing that, we are in a stronger position to negotiate overland access rights for the Northeast to Kolkata, won't we emerge better off? If we can get inland navigation going (Guwahati to Kolkata) on the Brahmaputra and Padma, won't we benefit?
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Now you might be wondering why has BJP Assam got into this thick soup, and having the media accuse it to doing a "u-turn", of betraying the promises made during the election campaign.
As a former office-bearer I can tell you that it is because we do not have the culture of internal debate. AASU took a stand on the "land transfer" issue, and we picked it up in toto. Akhil Gogoi took a stand on the "big dam" issue and we parroted his arguments fully. We opted for populism over prudence. This intellectual bankruptcy has harmed us and would cost us dearly in the coming days. Just wait till the Subansari dam construction takes off again!
We should understand that national policy is based on logic and what is considered "national interest", not shallow emotions or half-baked scholarship. For Assam's "internal security" we need good relations with Bangladesh. And therefore it is in our national interest to have a settled border with all our neighbours.
It would be very tempting to combine arguments for/against the land transfer with the issue of Bangladeshi illegal migrants. Many of you would say: if you are giving land to Bangladesh, given them back the illegal migrants as well. Please desist from taking this line of thought. These are two separate issues, and need to be dealt with separately. The solution to border management is settled borders. The solution to illegal migration is NRC.
The NRC has to be completed and I am sure the Government would announce something on this soon. But for the moment, the Land Boundary Agreement is the best thing Modiji has done for Assam.
