Scarred Nellie closes doors to Saffron surge

NELLIE, April 29: If Sirajjul Khan dreads something, it is the possibility of the AGP-BJP alliance winning the May 10 elections. One of the few survivors of the carnage at Nellie in 1983, Sirajjul makes no bones about his dislike for the BJP. And now that the ruling AGP has aligned with the saffron party, he has absolutely no doubt that the minorities in the state are in for a hard time. "One party has destroyed a mosque, while the other cannot be relied on. The AGP did not do anything for us during its five-year term in Dispur," he says. Sirajjul, a small-time contractor, says he cannot comprehend how the AGP and the BJP came together after lambasting each other over the years. While Sirajjul is candid, the majority of Nellie's minorities is reluctant to speak out against the AGP-BJP combine. But the signs of anxiety on their faces give them away. Khurshid Islam, a pharmacist, puckers his eyebrows at the mere mention of the AGP-BJP alliance. But he stops short of voicing his opinion on the two parties' promise to protect the interests of the minorities. "Better not talk about it," he says. Other minority residents of this township react to questions on the AGP-BJP alliance in much the same manner. Nellie is not an Assembly seat, just one of the blocks comprising Jagiroad constituency. However, it invariably influences the voting pattern of the minorities in the entire constituency. Bubul Das of the AGP won the seat in the last elections, defeating the Congress candidate. But Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's party is unlikely to have it easy this time round. Alima Begum, a teacher at the Nellie Lower Primary School, says the Congress probably has an advantage over the other parties. But she hastens to add that the minorities do not have faith in it. "The Congress seems to have the edge, but it does not mean that the minorities consider it their true friend," she says. Those directly affected by the 1983 massacre are the ones who harbour hatred for the political set-up as a whole. Samina Khatun, who lost two siblings in the carnage, does not consider any political party worthy of being elected to power. "The less said about our politicians, the better. But I still feel exercising one's franchise is important," she says. Minority leader Mohammed Khaleque feels people of his community will vote en masse for the Congress. "With the honeymoon between the minorities and the AGP long over, a large section of the minorities has already joined the Congress," he says. However, one cannot discount the possibility of the tribals in the area nullifying the Congress' advantage. Nazimul Hussain, another resident of Nellie, says not a single party can afford to be complacent in Jagiroad constituency. "Political equations changed in the wake of the AGP joining hands with the BJP. It is well-nigh impossible to predict the outcome of the elections," he adds. Jayanta Sangma, a college teacher, feels the Nellie massacre is no longer an electoral issue. "The people are actually angry with the AGP for failing to fulfil their aspirations. Though schools, colleges and roads have been built, there are still no jobs for the youth," he says.