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RegionalAspirations 129 but this was not acceptable to other rebels. The problem in Nagaland still awaits a final resolution. Movements against outsiders The large scale migration into the North-East gave rise to a special kind of problem that pitted the ‘local’ communities against people who were seen as ‘outsiders’ or migrants. These latecomers, either from India or abroad are seen as encroachers on scarce resources Angami Zapu like land and potential competitors to employment opportunities and political power. This issue has taken political and sometimes violent Phizo form in many States of the North-East. (1904-1990): Leader of the The Assam Movement from 1979 to 1985 is the best example movement for of such movements against ‘outsiders’. The Assamese suspected independent Nagaland; that there were huge numbers of illegal Bengali Muslim settlers from Bangladesh. They felt that unless these foreign nationals are president of Naga detected and deported they would reduce the indigenous Assamese National Council; into a minority. There were other economic issues too. There was began an armed widespread poverty and unemployment in Assam despite the struggle against the Indian state; went existence of natural resources like oil, tea and coal. It was felt that these were drained out of the State without any commensurate ‘underground’, benefit to the people. stayed in Pakistan and spent the last In 1979 the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), a students’ three decades of group not affiliated to any party, led an anti-foreigner movement. his life in exile in The movement was against illegal migrations, against domination of Bengalis and other outsiders, and against faulty voters’ register UK. that included the names of lakhs of immigrants. The movement demanded that all outsiders who had entered the State after 1951 should be sent back. The agitation followed many novel methods and mobilised all sections of Assamese people, drawing support across the State. It also involved many tragic and violent incidents leading to loss of property and human lives. The movement also tried to blockade the movement of trains and the supply of oil from I’ve never Assam to refineries in Bihar. understood this Eventually after six years of turmoil, the Rajiv Gandhi-led insider-outsider business. It’s like the government entered into negotiations with the AASU leaders, train compartment. leading to the signing of an accord in 1985. According to this Someone who got agreement those foreigners who migrated into Assam during and in before others after Bangladesh war and since, were to be identified and deported. treats others as With the successful completion of the movement, the AASU and the outsiders. Asom Gana Sangram Parishad organised themselves as a regional political party called Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). It came to power in 1985 with the promise of resolving the foreign national problem as well as to build a ‘Golden Assam’. Assam accord brought peace and changed the face of politics in Assam, but it did not solve the problem of immigration. The issue of the ‘outsiders’ continues to be a live issue in the politics of Assam Reprint 2026-27