Assam Agitation
Encyclopedia
The Assam Agitation was a popular movement against undocumented migrants in Assam
between 1979 and 1985. It is regarded as one of the most vibrant democratic mass movements of independent India. The movement, led by All Assam Students Union
and the 'All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad', set an agitational program to compel the government to identify and expel the illegal immigrants. The agitational programs were largely non-violent, but there were incidents of acute violence, like the Nellie massacre
. The agitational program ended in 1985 following the Assam Accord
that was signed between the agitation leaders and the Government of India
.
The agitation leaders formed a political party, Asom Gana Parishad
, which came to power in the state of Assam in the Assembly elections of 1985 and later in 1996.
. During the process of the election it was noticed that the electorate had grown phenomenally. AASU demanded that the elections be postponed till the names of foreign nationals are deleted from the electoral rolls, and the Assam Agitation was born.
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
between 1979 and 1985. It is regarded as one of the most vibrant democratic mass movements of independent India. The movement, led by All Assam Students Union
All Assam Students Union
All Assam Students Union is a five-tier students' union in Assam, India.All Assam Students Union or AASU is a students' organization in Assam, India. It is best known for leading the six-year Assam Movement against alleged illegal immigrants from Bangladesh...
and the 'All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad', set an agitational program to compel the government to identify and expel the illegal immigrants. The agitational programs were largely non-violent, but there were incidents of acute violence, like the Nellie massacre
Nellie massacre
The Nellie massacre took place in Assam during a six-hour period in the morning of 18 February 1983. The massacre claimed the lives of 2,191 people from 14 villages—Alisingha, Khulapathar, Basundhari, Bugduba Beel, Bugduba Habi, Borjola, Butuni, Indurmari, Mati Parbat, Muladhari, Mati...
. The agitational program ended in 1985 following the Assam Accord
Assam Accord
The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement signed between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Agitation in New Delhi on 15 August 1985...
that was signed between the agitation leaders and the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
.
The agitation leaders formed a political party, Asom Gana Parishad
Asom Gana Parishad
Asom Gana Parishad is a state political party in Assam, India. The AGP was formed after the historic Assam Accord of 1985 when Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was elected as the youngest chief minister of the country...
, which came to power in the state of Assam in the Assembly elections of 1985 and later in 1996.
History
In 1978 the member of the Lok Sabha, Hiralal Patwari, died necessitating a by-election in the Mangaldoi Lok Sabha ConstituencyMangaldoi (Lok Sabha constituency)
-Assembly segments:Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments :* Kamalpur* Rangiya* Nalbari* Panery* Kalaigaon* Sipajhar* Mangaldoi * Dalgaon* Udalguri * Majbat-Members of Parliament:...
. During the process of the election it was noticed that the electorate had grown phenomenally. AASU demanded that the elections be postponed till the names of foreign nationals are deleted from the electoral rolls, and the Assam Agitation was born.