Govt honours families ​of Assam agitation martyrs on 'Shahid Divas'

Guwahati: The state government on Saturday honoured the family members of 855 martyrs of the Assam agitation at a massive function here.

The government reiterated its commitment to protect the indigenous people of the state by giving them constitutional safeguards.

The non-violent students' movement sought to detect and deport illegal foreigners from Assam and put an end to the infiltration from Bangladesh.

It is for the first time that the state government has organised a function to honour the families of martyrs.

The All Assam Students' Union (AASU), which spearheaded the movement, observes December 10 every year as Shahid Divas (Martyrs Day).

The agitation started in 1979 and ended after the signing of the Assam Accord between the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and AASU in 1985.

"The Assam Agitation was a non-violent democratic agitation to maintain the integrity of the country. Led by the students of the state, Assam agitation reflected the firmness of mentality of the people of Assam to the world leaders," IANS quoted Sonowal as saying.