Demand to scrap Indo-Nepal treaty

RAJIV KONWAR, TT, 31 Oct 2018, Guwahati: The Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, a confederation of indigenous people of Assam, on Monday demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap the Indo-Nepal Treaty of 1950 and introduce the provision of passport and visas for Nepali citizens.

In a memorandum submitted to Modi, the Mahasangha said apart from infiltration from Bangladesh for the past few decades, a "silent invasion" of people from Nepal has also been going on "unchecked, undeterred" and that "Nepali foreigners should be treated like Bangladeshi infiltrators".

The demand comes at a time the Union home ministry, in a communication to the Assam government, has said that members of the Gorkha community who were Indian citizens at the time of commencement of the Constitution, or those who are Indian citizens by birth, or those who acquired Indian citizenship by registration or naturalization in accordance with the provisions of The Citizenship Act, 1955, are not "foreigners." 

Prime Minister of Nepal, Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana
and Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan
Singh signing the treaty, 31 July 1950.

It demanded removal of the names of all Nepali people, who entered Assam after 1950, from the electoral rolls, census reports and the National Register of Citizens and to bar them from land and political rights, jobs and business opportunities.

"All Nepali people who entered Assam after 1950 should not have voting rights and should not be allowed as candidates in any election from any political party," the memorandum said.

The treaty permits free movement of people between India and Nepal and allows them to own property, participate in trade and commerce and enjoy other privileges.

The Mahasangha also submitted copies of the memorandum to Union home minister Rajnath Singh and MHA joint secretary (Northeast) Satyendra Garg. The Mahasangha's working president Matiur Rahman said "largescale" migration from Nepal also poses a threat to the indigenous people of Assam. "Although neighbouring, Nepal is a foreign country. Taking advantage of the Indo-Nepal Treaty, 1950, Nepali people are entering Assam, taking up jobs and occupying land here," he said.

Nanda Kirati Dewan, who had long been associated with the All Assam Gorkha Students' Union, said the union has been demanding since its inception in 1976 to scrap Clauses VI and VII of the IndoNepal Treaty, 1950. " Dewan said there are around 25 lakh Indian Gorkhas in Assam who had entered the country in 1815-16. "Because of Clauses VI and VII of the treaty, Indian Gorkhas are also in an identity crisis. Those who entered Assam enjoying the facilities of the treaty are also enjoying the same rights as we do today," he said..