The Union Cabinet headed by PM Modi on Wednesday approved setting up of a high level committee to consider into the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which “envisaged that appropriate constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people,” said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. In addition, the cabinet has also given its approval for the establishment of a Bodo Museum-cum-language and cultural study centre.
Announcing the cabinet decision, Rajnath Singh said, “It has been felt that Clause 6 of the Assam Accord has not been fully implemented even almost 35 years after it was signed. With this decision, the process of full implementation of the Assam Accord will start. The committee will also examine how effective the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord has been.”
The home minister also said the committee “will hold discussions with all stakeholders and assess the required quantum of reservation of seats in the Assam Assembly and local bodies for Assamese people”. He went on to add, “The committee will gauge the effectiveness of the Accord and suggest measures needed to protect the Assamese language. It will assess the measures needed for safeguarding the ethnic Assamese, the extent of employment reservation quantum and so on. The terms and conditions of the committee will soon be decided by the Union home ministry.”
The government statement said the high-level panel will “suggest constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards”, and “examine the effectiveness of actions since 1985 to implement” the clause. It also said, “The setting up of the committee will pave the way for the implementation of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit and will help fulfill longstanding expectations of Assamese people.”
A historic day for Assam!
Clause 6 of #AssamAccord which was only on paper since 1985 is finally set to see light of the day with Cabinet decision to set up a high-level committee to implement it. This shall pave way for implementation of Clause 6. My gratitude to @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/2VniVdhs3w
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) January 2, 2019
After the violent Assam agitation of 1979-1985, the Assam accord was signed between the Government of India, Assam government and all Assam Students Union (AASU) on August 15, 1985. As per the accord, “Foreigners, who came to Assam after 1.1.1966 (inclusive) and upto 24th March, 1971 shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964.” Clause 5.8 of the Assam Accord states, “Foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law. Immediate and practical steps shall be taken to expel such foreigners.”
Clause 6 of the Assam Accord says, “Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people”.
The move of the government to set up a high-level committee to look into the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord is politically significant in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. BJP looks to improve its tally in Assam, where it had won seven out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in 2014. Through NRC exercise, it has already identified 40 lakh “illegal” immigrants who would soon be put under scrutiny according to the last update received till December 31. The cabinet’s decision has come hours before PM Modi’s rally in Silchar on January 4.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s decision and called it a historic step. The NDA government looks determined to safeguard and protect the interests as well as the cultural and linguistic identity of the indigenous people of Assam.