Centre & Dispur are keeping people in dark: Debabrata Saikia

GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia has alleged that both the Central and State governments are doing politics and are keeping the people of Assam in darkness in the name of the 'report' submitted by the high-level committee to implement Clause-VI of the Assam Accord.

Recently, a fresh row has erupted on the status of Clause-VI of the Assam Accord with the Centre coming up with the following statement in the Parliament in New Delhi on September 16, 2020.

"The High-level committee constituted by the Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) on Clause-VI of Assam Accord has submitted its report to the Government of Assam; and its recommendations are under the examination of the State government," stated Union Minister of State (MoS) (Home Affairs) G Kishan Reddy in a written reply to a question raised by Member of Parliament (MP) Sambhaji Chhattrapati in the Rajya Sabha.

Saikia said the Centre has given a elusive statement in regard to the Claus VI report.

"The Centre said that the State government is examining the recommendations in the high-level committee's report. It is a funny remark because already the Prime Minister and then Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave assurance in Assam that after receiving the report, Centre will implement it without even changing the 'full stops and commas'. Through the parliament's statement it has been cleared that till date the Assam government has not submitted the report to the Centre," he opined.

Further, Saikia requested Dispur to send the report at an urgent basis to the Centre as there is no reason to put it on hold.

This report was prepared by the 14-member 'High-powered Committee on the Implementation of Clause-VI of Assam Accord' headed by Justice (retd) Biplab Kumar Sarma. This panel set up by the MHA, submitted its report to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal here on February 25, 2020. The Chief Minister received the sealed report on behalf of Union Home Minister.

On July 15, 2019, the MHA constituted the high-powered committee. The 'Clause-VI' of the historic Assam Accord (signed on August 15, 1985) envisages Constitutional, legislative and administrative measures to safeguard, protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

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