ASSAM AGITATION 45 Assam Jatiyatabadi Dal (AJO). AAGSP is said to represent the "socio-politico-cultural organizations" in the state. But from the style of its functioning, AAGSP can be called only as a political byproduct. With the launching of the satyagraha from 12 to 17 November 1979, the movement really began to receive the support and participation of the masses. Though the movement got a stupendous mass backing, the leadership remained divided regarding the aims and course of the movement. And as can be expected in such an explosive situation, with the masses in excitement to redress their economic wrongs, one section of the toiling masses was set against another section of their brethren. And a fratricidal war ensued. Election: Outstanding Features Both the PLP and AJD were floated before the Assembly election in 1978. But neither of them could get a single candidate returned to the Assembly. Certain outstanding features of the last Assembly election in Assam were i) failure of the Congress to secure a majority needed to form a post-emergency ministry^ ii) emergence of the Janata as the ruling party and iii) the return of a leftisc bloc of 24, with 11 members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Assembly of 126 members. With the Congress in political wilderness and Janata enfeebled by infighting, the reactionary forces in Assam pinned their hopes on the PLP and AJD. And backed by the reactionaries, the PLP and AJD started, almost from the beginning, a virulent attack on the left and democratic parties and organizations. Now, supported by AASU elements, their attack on the left and democratic parties and organizations continues unabated. Assam now is virtually under mass terrorism. There can be no two opinions as to the deportation of foreign nationals from Assam. But during the present movement, and even before that, the leaders, while demanding the deletion of foreigners5 names from the voters9 list and their deportation, have been using wilfully and synonymously two words, "outsiders" and "foreigners". The idea was to form an independent united state of Assam (USA) after the last outsider has been got rid of. Leaflets were distributed in propagation of this idea. However, as the leaders used the words "outsiders" and "foreigners" synonymously, there was great confusion among the general public as to the real issues involved. By this wilful and confusing manipulation of words, Indians coming from outside Assam and foreigners alike were made victims of the so-called patriotic frenzy. Not to speak