MHA yet to implement Clause 6 committee recommendations after 5 months: Lurinjyoti Gogoi

Referring to the delay in response from MHA on recommendations of the Clause 6 committee on Assam Accord that was submitted five months ago, AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi told ETV Bharat Reporter Gautam Debroy that the government is adopting a double standard in this regard. He also demanded the implementation of the recommendations in the next one month by the Centre.

New Delhi: More than five months have passed since the Clause 6 committee on Assam Accord submitted its sealed report to the state government, the Union Home Ministry (MHA) is yet to take a call on the measures to implement the recommendations of the committee or make the report public.

Talking to ETV Bharat, All Assam Students Union (AASU) general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said that central Government is adopting a double standard.

It may be mentioned here that AASU was also a representative in the committee.

"Home Minister Amit Shah has earlier said that the moment they get recommendations from the Clause 6 committee, all recommendations will be submitted. But now, it has been over 5 months and nobody has issued any statement in this regard," said Gogoi.

Central government should be sincere in implementing the recommendations of the Clause 6 committee which safeguard the indigenous people of Assam, said Gogoi.

"We demand that the government should implement the recommendations in next one month and make the report public," said Gogoi.

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He said that Clause 6 was incorporated in the Assam Accord to protect the indigenous people of the state following large scale influx from Bangladesh.

"Assam already has taken the burden of illegal foreigners and the CAA violates the basic principle of Assam Accord as it provides citizenship to the foreigners who entered Assam even after 1971," said Gogoi.

He said that sentiments of the people of Assam are connected with the Assam Accord and "central government should respect our sentiments."

The committee in its report submitted to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is believed to have set 1951 as a cut off date to make one eligible for the benefits under Clause 6.

The recommendation has already created a ripple among cross-sections of the society following the fact that in a judgement passed by Supreme Court, March 24, 1971, was set as a cut of year for anybody to become Indian citizen and accordingly published an updated National Register of Citizen (NRC).

In fact, the historic Assam Accord of 1985 which was inked after six years of anti-foreigners movement also set March 24, 1971, as a cut of the year.

As per the accord, foreigners (Bangladeshi) who entered into Assam after March 24, 1971, irrespective of their religious affiliations, are to be deported.

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The Clause 6 committee in its report also suggested bringing entire Assam under the provision of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), which means any person who needs to visit Assam will have to take prior approval from the government.

The committee also recommended an Upper House for the Assam Assembly.

Chairman of the committee Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma said that they have not received any communication from Home Ministry.

The committee had submitted its report to the Assam Government on February 25. "We have also intimated the Home Ministry earlier, about the completion of the report," said Sharma.

Officials in the Home Ministry, however, said that due to the ongoing pandemic in the country, the issue has been pushed back for the time being.

"The Home Minister has also been made aware of the committee report," officials in the Home Ministry said on condition of anonymity.

Officials further said that the recommendations made by the committee need more scrutiny.

Before the central government passed the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the Parliament last December, the Home Ministry in July set up the 13 member committee headed by Justice (Retd) Biplab Sharma to make recommendations to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord.

The committee was earlier asked to submit its report in six months but later took a one-month extension.

The committee was asked to suggest recommendations on Clause 6, which provide constitutional, legislative and administrative measures to safeguard, preserve and promote the cultural and heritage of the Assamese people.