New Delhi: In a first such decisive step taken by a women’s forum in Assam, an apolitical collective, Nari Nagarik Manch, has resolved to launch a sustained campaign against the Himanta Biswa Sarma government’s decision to issue arms licences to “indigenous people living inside sensitive areas” of the north-eastern state, stating that the government’s action would “undo decades of peace-building” in the north-eastern state.

While Assam had seen a protracted period of militancy leading to loss of many innocent lives, the border state has been relatively peaceful since 2009-10 with no major acts of violence reported. The women’s collective expressed concern that after what was witnessed in neighbouring Manipur due to arms reaching the non-state actors, it would be dangerous to issue arms licence to citizens in Assam as part of a state policy in the name of their self-protection.

'Move will undo decades of peace-building and escalate tensions in the state'

It warned that the move “will undo decades of peace-building and escalate tensions in the state.”

In a meeting held in Guwahati this August 8, the Manch resolved to submit a memorandum to chief minister Sarma to “strongly urge” to “immediately revoke” his government’s decision to arm citizens besides writing to the Prime Minister and the President seeking their intervention on the matter.

The meeting of the Manch, attended by about 30 prominent women from a cross-section of Assamese society, also decided to file a public interest litigation (PIL) if needed to curtail the government’s move.

This past May, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of the state had announced that it would issue guns licences from this August 1 to only “indigenous” residents. Sarma has been justifying the move by claiming that “indigenous” people residing in “vulnerable remote areas” of five districts of the state were feeling “insecure” and therefore, his government would be “lenient in giving licences to eligible people” in those areas.

The districts named by the chief minister – Dhubri, Morigaon, Barpeta, Nagaon and South Salmara-Mankachar – are where Muslims of Bengali origin are in large numbers.

This July, speaking on the sidelines of an event organised at an agricultural project of the government at Gorukhuti in Sipajhar, Sarma had said, “I want the situation in Assam to be explosive,” adding, “Someday, the situation will be explosive in Assam. How will our people survive if there is an explosion?”

With barely a few months left for his government to seek a second term, the chief minister is being increasingly seen delivering communally provocative statements besides launching a drive to evict only Muslims of Bengali origin from government land by calling them “Bangladeshis”.

Sarma, who is increasingly getting unpopular among the state’s indigenous voters for allegations of nepotism and corruption, is being widely seen as banking only on the ‘Bangladeshi’ card to try and incite the majority community’s ‘anti-foreigner’ sentiments and win the elections. In the 2016 assembly polls, the BJP could topple the well-entrenched Tarun Gogoi government only by playing the ‘indigenous’ card with the slogan of protecting their ‘Jati Mati Bheti’ (their identity and land).

Several civil society groups in the state and Opposition parties have expressed deep concern at the Sarma government’s move. It is in this backdrop in the poll-bound state that the Assamese women’s collective has spoken about the dangers of the state government issuing arms to the majority community and if needed, approach the courts against it.

'Decision could trigger an arms economy'

In a press note, the Manch felt that the decision could trigger “an arms economy”, kick up gender-based violence, and spark a ‘civil war like situation’ in a state which has worked hard for years to reduce the circulation of weapons after the prolonged militancy.

Speaking at the meeting, former IPS officer Violet Baruah said Assam’s borders are already guarded by well-equipped security forces, adding, “Weapons are still in circulation from past conflicts — legalising more arms will be a threat to public safety.”

A press note issued by the Manch said, “Speakers stressed that the government should focus on strengthening the Border Security Force, state police and border patrols instead of weaponising citizens.”

“The decision lacks transparency on eligibility criteria, threat assessment or safeguards, raising fears of targeting specific communities and deepening social polarisation.”

The note said drawing parallels from Manipur and Assam’s Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao regions, the women warned that “proliferation of arms inevitably fuels crime, domestic violence and black market trade.”

Speakers also asked if “trust deficit” of the chief minister towards his own police force is behind his government’s decision.

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