So, my main point is that we should not think in terms of army and police to solve this problem. Here our people, rightly or wrongly, led to believe that there is such a situation. There is an apprehension, that the social life of the people in Assam is being disturbed. There is a feeling that they are being overwhelmed. Psychologically they feel that way and they are convinced of that. Every official or non-official is involved in that movement. At the same time, there are some minorities who are living in fear there. This is the basic contradiction in Assam’s life today. This is not something very complimentary to the Assam situation. I would say that, at least in the Indian context, that Government will be democratic government which guarantees the protection to the minorities. This is the first condition for any democratic government that is functioning.
Therefore, I would say that while dealing with these things, Government will keep in its mind that this question cannot be solved with repressive measures, army’s use or by bullets. Emphasis will have to be only on negotiations. Of course, in order to persuade those people to come to the negotiating table, we will have to wait for some time. We will have to think of another method, namely, to make use of political parties in this matter. I would suggest that it is not only that the Government should try they should also make use of the other political parties and, I think, political parties are prepared to give co-operation. In this matter I would request the Prime Minister not to criticise the Opposition by saying that they are not giving co-operation, because every one knows that when she called the very first meeting of the leaders of the Opposition, they endorsed her suggestion that this question is a major question and we will give all possible co-operation to find a solution. Therefore, this sort of criticism of Opposition parties unnecessarily, is proving to be provocative and then it leads to unnecessary criticism, unnecessary non-cooperation and unnecessary indifference.
Now, Sir, the other aspect I would like to touch upon is this. I do not say that before starting negotiations one should lay down the principles. As Mr. Frank Anthony said, certain basic constitutional provisions will have to be taken into consideration. Certain international understandings will also have to be taken into consideration. It cannot be forgotten that there were, between our leaders and the leaders of the neighbouring countries, certain understandings. I do not want to restrict the scope of negotiations. My intention is not to do that. But this fact will have to be kept in mind and for that matter Assamese leaders of agitation will have to give thought about it. If they take a negative position, it will not be useful for them or for Assam or for India.
Sir, I again repeat my preposition that this is a mass-government based on certain pre-conceptions or may be certain misconceptions. One cannot deny there are foreigners. I think there are foreigners and they will have to he identified and this process of identification is more difficult. The negotiations are becoming difficult because identifying the foreigners in Assam is the most difficult task, because there are people who came there over the last thirty years, and they have had their children born here.
An Hon’ble Member : Should they be treated as foreigners?
Shri Y. B. Chavan : How can they be treated as foreigners? They are as good Indians as you and we are. So the basic position is that it will take some time. Sir, I would like to think aloud because I have dealt with this problem in some manner. There is not going to be some fixed solution or there is not going to be some simplistic solution. It will take time. One will have to show patient Government will have to show patience and never give up their efforts negotiate because these questions can be solved only through reconciliation with the people and in no other way. So, this one proposition should be kept mind and I would like to say that this is our general approach to the problem. I am representing my party here and putting its approach to the problem. We want to give co-operation to the people of Assam and also the Government India to find a solution in this matter and, I hope, in the interest of India ultimately we will succeed, in solving the problem through negotiations.
