State Government committed to ensuring implementation of Clause-6: Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday said that the present State Government is committed to ensure implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit. The State Government is taking sincere steps to make the State free from illegal foreigners, the Chief minister said adding that no government earlier showed any interest to form a committee for implementation of clause 6 of the Accord.

The Chief Minister in a statement further said that certain political forces in the State do not wish the implementation of the Accord. However, the present State Government sincerely desires its implementation, the Chief Minister said and added that the State government would not let the sacrifices of the martyrs of Assam movement to go in vain. That is why the Central Government formed a high level committee under the chairmanship of retired justice Biplob Kumar Sarma, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister stated that the Central Government while taking steps for Constitutional safeguard of the indigenous people through implementation of the clause 6 of the Accord formed a committee including leadership of All Assam Students Union as members. However, the AASU leadership did not respond to the Central Government's move, the Chief Minister said. Though the Central Government took oral consent from all the members prior constitution of the committee, several members resigned from the committee and as a result the entire process got stuck.

However, showing its commitment for implementation of the Accord, the Central Government again immediately constituted a 13-member committee led by retired justice Biplob Kumar Sarma. Earlier, the State Government made a request to Union Home Minister in this regard and the Home Ministry took immediate action. This reflects the goodwill of the Central and State Governments for implementation of the Assam Accord. Members of the AASU were also included in the committee.

The Committee after extensively touring various parts of the State and interacting with various organizations, leading personalities, intellectuals and journalists etc. prepared a report and submitted this report on 25th of this year. Unfortunately since then coronavirus pandemic continues to stall the day to day lives of people worldwide. As a result, nationwide lockdown was declared in the later part of March in India. The pandemic still continues.

The Chief Minister further said that even though the State government is battling against flood, erosion, landslides, storm, African swine fever, Baghjan gas well fire etc. along with COVID-19 today, the Government continues its efforts sincerely to implement clause 6 of the Accord. Simultaneously the Central government is also taking steps in this regard. Therefore, without giving a definite timeframe, disclosing the report of the committee is very unfortunate, the Chief Minister stated.

The Chief Minister further assured that the Government of Assam is committed to ensure implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. The State government is always devoted to safeguard the constitutional rights of the indigenous people through implementation of clause 6 of the Accord. In no uncertain terms, the State Government desires to inform the people that no compromise will be made in this regard. The present State Government will not do anything that will harm the interests of the people. That is why the State Government from the beginning has been taking steps for safeguarding the interests of the people through consultation and suggestion. The State Government will also not do anything keeping the people in the dark.

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