Assam Accord: Dispur to form high-power committee

 Crucial talks on Assam Accord between CM & AASU

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government has decided to constitute a high-power committee to chalk out a roadmap for implementation of every clause of the historic Assam Accord.

The decision towards this end was taken after a marathon meeting which Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had with a delegation of 41 leaders of the central committee of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) at the State Guest House at Koinadhara here on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Assam Accord Implementation Minister Atul Bora said that the high-power committee would have representatives of the State Government and leaders of the AASU as its members. He said that the committee would submit its report to the Chief Minister within three months from the day of its formation.

Bora said that Tuesday's meeting was held in a conducive atmosphere. The meeting discussed the implementation of Clauses 6, 7, 9 and 10 of the Assam Accord. He said that the Chief Minister and the AASU leadership exchanged views, suggestions on the implementation of the said clauses.

When asked particularly about the implementation of Clause 6, Bora told reporters that a discussion was held on constitutional safeguards to indigenous people to protect and preserve their identity. He said the meeting also discussed the perennial problems of flood and erosion in the State.

"The AASU leadership has submitted various demands in writing to the Chief Minister and the latter has assured to consider the same," Bora said.

State Minister for Water Resources, Information, Public Relations, Printing & Stationery Department Pijush Hazarika told reporters that Tuesday's meeting tried to reach a consensus with the AASU leadership to implement the Assam Accord for the greater interest of the indigenous people of the State.

Chief Advisor of the AASU Samujjal Bhattacharjya said that the committee would have three Cabinet ministers and five AASU leaders as members. He said that discussions were held on how to implement the report and recommendations of the High-Powered Committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry to implement Clause 6, complete sealing of the Assam sector of the India-Bangladesh border, permanent solution to flood and erosion problems, update of the NRC and economically rehabilitate the families of martyrs and victims of atrocities during the Assam Movement.

Significantly, Tuesday's bilateral meeting was held after 16 long years since the last meeting between the Chief Minister of Assam and the AASU on the implementation of the tripartite Assam Accord signed in New Delhi. The last bilateral discussion on the Accord in the State was held with the then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on May 2, 2005.

Also Read: Assam Accord: Key talks after 16 long years

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