Tripartite talks between the Centre, Assam government, and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on implementing the Assam Accord are expected by January next year, the assembly was informed on Wednesday.
According to a PTI report, Implementation of Assam Accord Minister Atul Bora, replying to a question from AGP MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita, said the AASU has requested tripartite talks to execute the Justice Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee report on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. “The CM has taken an initiative in this regard and contacted the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Accordingly, tripartite talks are likely by January,” he said.
The Justice Sharma Committee’s report contains 67 recommendations, with 40 under the state government’s jurisdiction. The committee submitted its report on February 25, 2020, to then Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for forwarding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The committee was formed by the Centre.
In October 2021, Assam set up an eight-member committee to prepare a framework for implementing all clauses of the 40-year-old Assam Accord, especially Clause 6, within three months.
Clause 6 promises constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity, and heritage of the Assamese people.
In September last year, the Assam government and AASU discussed implementing the Justice Sharma Committee’s recommendations on Clause 6 to safeguard indigenous interests.
The Assam Accord was signed in 1985 after a six-year anti-foreigner movement, mandating detection and deportation of foreigners who arrived in Assam on or after March 25, 1971.
Bora added that since 1971, 1,35,901 people have been identified as illegal foreigners in Assam, but only 30,130 have been deported so far. (With PTI inputs)
