Confidential report on Clause 6 in public evokes reactions in Barak

SILCHAR: The recommendations of the High Power Committee headed by Justice B K Sarma on the implementation of Clause VI of Assam Accord made public by AASU have evoked strong reactions in Barak Valley. Prof Dilip Dey, former Principal of B.T. College here, dubbed the move to make effective the Clause VI of the accord as 'unconstitutional, undemocratic and against all canons of natural and legal justice.' If at all, the recommendations are implemented, it will only create divisions among different linguistic and religious groups of people. He reminded Assam is a multilingual, multi-religious, multi- ethnic and multi-cultural state.

Pradip Dutta Roy, ACKHSA advisor and Advocate, Gauhati High Court, questioned how could AASU lay its hand on a confidential report and make it public, that too at a press-meet convened by the student body? "This is not only illegal but also smacks of a conspiracy that needs to be thoroughly examined as it will adversely impact on the socio-politico integrity of Assam," he said. He imputes political motive of the student body behind it which is all set to float a political party to assert its voice more strongly on political platform.

"The burning problems of Assam will only get more vexed," Dutta Roy cautioned. Sammujal Bhattacharjee, as he said, need not worry about the implementation of recommendations, particularly in respect of jobs. Sarbananda Sonowal Government has already started implementing them. Not even a single educated unemployed youth from Barak Valley got placement in 200 vacant posts of the department of agriculture, 137 vacant posts of Water Resources department and 300 vacant posts in NRHM. Considering its grave implications, Citizens' Rights Preservation Committee (CRPC), central committee, in a statement issued here, has demanded of the Centre and the State to reject the recommendations in letter and spirit.

A legal expert on condition of anonymity admits the recommendations of the High Power Committee have no legal sanction unless ratified by the Parliament and the State Assembly. But, he wonders how can such recommendations be made for a state which is polyglot? State Reorganisation Committee long back listed Assam as a multilingual state where more than 30% of population is of other linguistic groups. To recommend 1951 as cut off date for identification of genuine citizens of Assam as 'Khilinjias' is paradoxical since NRC has been prepared by taking 1971 as cut off date. "It will only add to the problem," the legal expert opined.

The octogenarian politician and patriarch of BJP, Kabindra Purkayastha, on the other hand, has the message, 'Not to be agitated or excited.' These are only recommendations. He is confident the present government at the Centre and the State will not take any decision that will harm the interest of other linguistic and ethnic groups. Moreover, frontline Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified it is the Assembly which has the prerogative to determine who is a 'Khilinjia'? The recommendations have to go miles to take any shape, pointed out Kabindra Purkayastha.

Also Watch: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Condemns Attack in Zubeen Garg