Assam Accord Panel Finalises Definition of ‘Assamese’

Guwahati, January 13, 2020:

The Assam Accord Panel has finalized the definition of ‘Assamese’ in Clause 6 of the 1985 agreement and have readied its recommendations regarding its implementation to safeguard the interests of the indigenous people.

The deadline for the 14-member Assam Accord panel to submit its recommendations is January 15. It may be mentioned here that the panel has been constituted to look into how the Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord could be implemented so that the rights of the Assamese and indigenous people are protected.

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The Clause 6 is viewed as one way to protect the cultural and linguistic identity of the state from the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Widespread protests had erupted in Assam after the passage of the Citizenship Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Five people were killed in the violent agitation against the government’s move to implement the CAA in Assam. Majority of the people had been demanding the government to scrap the act as it would affect the identity of the state.

The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which has been heading the peaceful and cultural protests, has been specifically stressing on the implementation of Clause 6. The Assam Accord Panel which, also includes AASU members, has now come up with the recommendations for the interest of the Assamese, according to reports.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Sunday called the Panel members for a meeting to discuss the issue. However, AASU members skipped the meeting citing the implementation of CAA as the main reason.

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