BJP eyes ethnic votes with satras in Assam

GUWAHATI: If the Congress is playing the refugee card, the BJP is delving deep into history to resurrect Vaishnavite sentiments to woo indigenous voters. The saffron party is demanding protection and development of the ancient shrines, considered the seat of Assamese culture and education, which they fear has been sadly neglected.
The party has launched a campaign in Majuli and other areas like Barpeta and Nagaon to save the 15th century monasteries from encroachment by illegal migrants. "Nearly 910 satras need urgent attention and the government is doing nothing," claimed Mriganka Barman, president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
During Rasotsava every year, thousands of pilgrims from across the country visit these monasteries. The organisation held a rally from Sarabhog in Barpeta to Bardowa Satra in Nagaon recently to mobilise public opinion. It even submitted a memorandum to governor J B Patnaik, pleading immediate restoration of the satras. "The state government announced many schemes for saving the satras. But they were all in paper," said Barman, alleging that the government has taken no action to evict encroachers.
"About 5,548 bighas are under encroachment," said another leader of the organization. For long, the Asom Satra Mahasabha (ASM) has been demanding the protection of these shrines.
"Nearly 26 satras have been encroached upon. They are not only seats of neo-Vaishnavite culture and education, they also play a significant role in uniting the people of all classes. In short, they are the symbols of communal harmony," said Kusum Kumar Mahanta, secretary, ASM.
Though it may appear the BJP has stolen a march over the Congress by tapping ethnic sentiments, the latter is yet to decided whether to include the monasteries in its manifesto. "We have not decided if satras will be a poll issue for us," said Ranjan Bora, a Congress spokesperson.
But can satras really swing votes? "Ratanpur Satra has not received any grant from the state government since 1975. Whoever comes forward to protect it, will get our vote," said Parag Goswami, a local who is a regular at the satras in upper Assam.