The Assam government has constituted a sub-committee to examine and prepare a framework for the implementation of all clauses of the Assam Accord. The committee will present its report within three months.
The eight-member panel will examine Clause 6, Clause 7, Clause 9 and Clause 10 of the high-level committee recommendations, along with updation of the National Register of Citizens, issues of flood and erosion, rehabilitation of martyrs’ families and victims of the Assam Agitation. It will also look into various problems faced by Assam, including the potential for all-round economic development.
In a notification issued by the Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Assam, implementation of Assam Accord Department, GD Tripathi stated Atul Bora, the minister for Assam Accord implementation department, will be the chairperson of the panel. Ministers Pijush Hazarika and Ajanta Neog will be the panel members. There are five members from the All Assam Students Union (AASU).
According to the Assam Accord, signed after a six-year anti-foreigners’ movement, led by AASU, the cut-off date for detecting foreigners in Assam is March 24, 1971. AASU led the movement from 1979-1985.
Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs, North East Division, Government of India, had constituted a high-level committee, headed by Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma, former judge, Gauhati High Court, for the speedy implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Clause 6 provides for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, linguistic identity and the heritage of the Assamese people.
On August 11 last year, a three-member AASU panel had made public the recommendations of the panel. The Assam government has stated that it is examining the recommendations.
Clause 7 of the Accord provides that the government renew its commitment for the speedy all-round economic development of Assam to improve the standards of living of the people. Special emphasis will be placed on education and science and technology through the establishment of national institutions.
Clause 9 deals with security along the international border. The international border shall be secured against future infiltration through the erection of physical barriers like walls, barbed wire fencing and other obstacles at appropriate places. Patrolling by security forces on land and riverine routes along the international border shall be adequately intensified. To strengthen security arrangements, to prevent future infiltration, an adequate number of check posts shall be set up.
Clause 10 deals with encroachment of government land. It will be ensured that relevant laws for the prevention of encroachment of government lands and lands in tribal belts and blocks are strictly enforced and unauthorised encroachers evicted as laid down under such laws.
NRC UPDATE
The updation process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam is caught in a logjam two years after the publication of the supplementary list on August 31, 2019. Rejection slips are yet to be issued to those excluded –– who can move the Foreigners Tribunal (FT) to challenge the decision –– and the Registrar General of India (RGI) has not yet notified the NRC, officials aware of the matter told ET.
The supplementary NRC list had found more than 31.1 million people eligible to be included in the registry and left out over 1.9 million people.
Assam witnessed protests in 2019 and early 2020 when the CAA — which aims to make minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible to apply for Indian citizenship — was passed by Parliament. Five people were killed in the protests. There was a large-scale violence and curfew for several days. Those opposing CAA argued it is against the Assam Accord.
This story first appeared on economictimes.indiatimes.com