One of the more significant developments of the twentieth century in Assam was the formation of an Assamese upper class which was politically astute and proud of its linguistic and cultural heritage. The core of this identity is the linguistic tradition of the Assamese and their resentment of the Bengalis. This antipathy stems partly from the manner in which the Bengalis took it upon themselves in the nineteenth century to pass off the local language as but a poor relative of their own. It took the tireless efforts of American Baptist missionaries, led by R.Moffat Mills, to convince the British that Assamese indeed was a sovereign language.

The wound inflicted by this struggle—of having to fight for what was rightfully theirs and sought to be taken away—is still unhealed in the Assamese pysche. This attitude is reflected in open resentment toward Bengali speakers. It is a hostility that knows no bar of religion and is equally critical of those from Bangladesh and West Bengal.

Over the years, the Congress with its activist pro-minority plank was seen as a party which supported the interests of settlers. It was thus labelled pro-‘Bangladeshi’ by its opponents, especially the agitators. One doubts, however, whether any Congress leader in the state would have the courage to oppose the general consensus that all those who came after the 1971 creation of Bangladesh should be deported. Yet, in its desperation to hold on to its Muslim votes and anticipating that these would be wooed by other parties, including the regional Asom Gana Parishad and the leftist groups, the Congress has boxed itself into a corner.

It has declared repeatedly that it will not stand by and permit the harassment of Indian minorities (for that read ‘Muslims’ and sub-divide that word to read: ‘Bengali-speaking Muslims’) in the name of ousting illegal aliens. This controversy has largely risen as a result of legislation pushed through Parliament in 1983 called the Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal Act (IMDT). The Act set up tribunals in each district, which were to be presided over by retired district/additional district judges. Appeals are heard by an Appellant Tribunal of two retired High Court judges. The tribunals were to decide upon complaints about the presence of illegal migrants with the assistance of the local police. They had the power to summon witnesses and pronounce verdicts.

But between 1983 and 2000, the sixteen tribunals in various districts have functioned at far below their capacity. They have located about 10,000 illegals of which a bare 1,400 have been deported.