Parties Submit Views On Clause-VI: Clarification on ‘Indigenous’ Sought    

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Delegations of various political parties, social organizations and individuals submitted their views and opinions to the High Level Committee (HLC) on Clause-VI of the Assam Accord on the fourth day at the Administrative Staff College at Khanapara here on Saturday. The Committee has been recording the views and opinions on the issue since October 30.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary Durga Das Boro after the meeting Committee told The Sentinel, “We want that all the clauses — and not just Clause-VI — of the Assam Accord are implemented. The historic Accord was signed when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. The HCL has been constituted exclusively on Clause-VI of the Assam Accord. But nowhere in Clause-VI is the term ‘indigenous’ mentioned. On the other hand, the term ‘Assamese’ is mentioned in that Clause. Against this backdrop, it is strange that the HLC has already used the term ‘indigenous’ while identifying three categories of people in Assam, namely the ‘Assamese indigenous’, ‘Tribal indigenous’, and ‘Others indigenous’. Our poser: On what basis has this categorization been made?”

The APCC leader further asked, “Will all these three categories of indigenous people enjoy the same benefits? Besides, if they do so, then why is such a categorization required?”

Referring to the controversial CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill), Boro said, “The CAB will pose hurdles in the effective functioning of the HLC on Clause-VI just as it did with the NRC (National Register of Citizens). The Centre is adamant on the CAB. However, once it is implemented, hundreds of foreigners will be making a beeline to Assam and the Northeast. We must take all these aspects into account before taking any decision on Clause-VI.”

At the meet, prominent advocate Nekibur Zaman focused on the need for protecting the rights of the indigenous Muslims of Assam. He later told The Sentinel, “The indigenous Muslims of Assam are currently facing several crises due to the influx of Muslims from outside the country. They are presently being deprived of various schemes and jobs of the government. They should be given constitutional safeguards and also recognized as an ethnic community or group of the State. The indigenous Muslims of the State include the Goriyas, Moriyas, Deshis, Jalahas, Pangals (Manipuri), and the Kachari Muslims from the Barak Valley. Besides, the property under the State Wakf Board must be protected. All the indigenous Muslims of Assam have right over such property of the Wakf Board.”

CPI (M) leader Suprakash Talukdar told the media after meeting the HCL, “How is it possible to talk of constitutional safeguards without first determining the definitions of ‘Assamese’ and ‘indigenous’? It is like putting the cart before the horse.”

He added, “We feel that the Centre should agree to the demands for tribal status by the six indigenous communities of the State. But at the same time, such a step should be taken without hampering the status of other indigenous tribals in the State.

“Jobs in the government and semi-government sectors must be reserved for all the people who came to Assam till March 24, 1971. These people should also be given the sole rights over land and other property in the State.”

The AIUDF delegation told the HCL that to identify the foreigners in Assam, the government should stick to the cutoff date of midnight of March 24, 1971 as mentioned in the Assam Accord. In their memorandum, the AIUDF also demanded that stringent rules and regulations be made to make encroachment-free all government and temple lands, Wakf property, water bodies as well as water courses in the State. It also sought similar anti-encroachment measures on the areas bordering the neighbouring States.

The CPI, in its memorandum to the HCL, said that the indigenous people will not have any say over land and property in Assam unless and until the CAB is withdrawn. It also demanded that Articles 370 and 371 (A) should be implemented in Assam for shielding the rights of the indigenous people of the State.

Tankeswar Rabha, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Rabha Autonomous Council representing the Sadou Rabha Jatiya Sangha met the HLC and submitted its memorandum. Later addressing the media, Rabha said, “Just as the Assam Accord has a cut-off date for determining citizenship, there should also be a cut-off date to identify the indigenous people of the State. The indigenous people of the State must have rights over their land; and all the tribal belts and blocks must be freed of encroachers and illegal owners.”

The Sadou Asom Gorkha Sanmilan demanded that the Gorkha people living in Assam should be declared as indigenous people of the State.

The Sadou Asom Karmachari Parishad demanded 80 per cent reservation for indigenous people in all elected bodies of the State. It also demanded the identification and deportation of all foreigners from Assam as per Clause-V of the Assam Accord.

Also Read: Assam Accord Clause-VI Inapplicable For Barak And Hill Districts: Dilip Kumar Dey

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