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The largest number of Biharis are in Tinsukia district in Upper Assam and Nalbari and Bongaigaon in Lower Assam. About sixty people were killed and thousand houses were gutted and burnt down. Such a heinous crime was committed by a certain group that was not supported by the people of Assam. The ULFA, which was in a dormant state, took advantage of the situation and gave a call that within 24 hours all the Biharis should leave Assam. Then, AASU and the Assam Jatiyatavadi Yuva Chhatra Union also started campaigning against Biharis.

Then, on 17th November, a bandh was called by the All Asam Students Union (AASU), Assam Jatiyatavadi Yuva Chhatra Union and also by the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). They called a bandh and started attacking Biharis. They were innocent people and they started leaving Assam. They had nowhere to go because they had left their villages long back, say 50 years or 60 years ago. Where will they stay? They were beaten up, assaulted and killed. This provincial chauvinism was created. Actually, in Bihar there is no such problem of provincialism. Bihari people are everywhere. There are more than 20 lakh Biharis who are staying in Assam. There are Biharis in Bengal and in Kolkata itself.Lakhs of Biharis are working in West Bengal. There is no bad feeling between the Biharis and the Bengalis. The Bengalis are staying in Bihar. There is no provincialism in Bihar. I can quote from the first Chief Minister of Bihar. When the Damodar Valley Corporation was created, an apprehension was expressed by some members of the Assembly and some people. Even in December, 1947 when the Damodar Valley Corporation was built, an interesting debate took place in the Bihar Assembly. The Members harped on the inescapable fact that a lot of land in Bihar would be submerged as a result of this project while the benefits of flood protection and irrigation would go to Bengal. The then Chief Minister Shri S.K. Sinha said and I quote :

Sir, some incidents are very heartening. On the first day when the camp was opened, there were more than 12,000 people there. Now there are less than 4000 people there. From the very first day to the last day, I was there. The people are coming from the villages and requesting those people who are in the camp to come back for harvesting their paddy. The Assamese people are coming and are taking back the people. They have constructed the houses community-wise and they are putting them inside. They have said that they will protect them and they are helping in harvesting their paddy. It is really a positive side of the incident. The criminal elements, who had organised it have killed the innocent people. In lower Assam, NDFB have killed some people. ULFA had also killed few truck drivers. These incidents have taken place at that time. So, it should not be said that there is a dispute between Biharis and Assamese. I think we should not think in those lines because that will disturb the process of social assimilation. After the Yandabu Treaty, the Britishers took our people to other countries for work. At that time, Bihar was not there. From the Central Province, some people were taken to Assam. Some people were taken to Mauritius and some people were taken to Surinam and Fiji to work in their plantations and other places and they have become part and parcel of that society. Now there are student organisations and political parties. I do not agree with the point said by Shri Basudeb Acharia that Assamese are parochial. Yes. There is a demand of the local people. Earlier the Fourth Grade people, the khalasis and gangmen, used to be recruited under the General Manager and the Divisional Manager. The local people used to give their sincere service to them because they lived by the side of the railway line. They work and go to their village. I do not know whether it has changed due to the faulty policy of the Government.

I would like to draw the attention of the hon. House that in 2000, 105 Bihari people were killed by ULFAS. From that moment onwards, they have been attacking and propagating against the Hindi-speaking people. Now also in Assam, the screening of Hindi films is disturbed by ULFAS. From that night when the Assam bandh was called, the Bihari people were attacked in some places of Assam. The Government has taken the action immediately. The security was tightened. All the Bihari people collected together. CRPF and Army personnel were sent to every place. In my constituency, one house was burnt. With the help of local people, the District Administration constructed this house in front of me within 12 hours. I was there. Sir, ULFA and NDFB took the advantage of this exploiting the sentiments of the people. Nobody can deny it. But it is not a group clash between Assamese and Biharis, it is not a group clash between Assamese and Muslims. It is all false. He does not know the history of Assam.