Assam: PVM Convenor slams CM’s opinion on Clause 6 Committee report

GUWAHATI: Convenor of Prabajan Virodhi Manch, Upamanyu Hazarika on Saturday said that Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma's opinion on the report of Clause 6 committee is ‘groundless’ and ‘baseless’.

He said that it is yet another attempt to deny safeguards to indigenous people of Assam who are well on their way of becoming a minority.

Explaining his point, Hazarika said that, “Firstly, his [Himanta Biswa Sarma] view that the Supreme Court has prescribed a ceiling of 50% for reservation in employment and education is correct as far as other states are concerned but the court has itself recognized with approval the reservation 80-90% granted for indigenous people in other Northeastern states like Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh etc.”

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“Supreme Court in three successive judgements - Sarbananda Sonowal I, Sarbananda Sonowal II and Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha has given finding that the indigenous people of Assam face the threat of losing their identity in the face of Bangladeshi influx and therefore need to be protected, he added.

Hazarika further alleged that the Chief Minister has highlighted only one aspect that too only relating to employment and educational reservation.

“There are other important aspects like land reservation, trade license reservation etc., by the Committee, which are implementable”, he said.

According to Hazarika, the second reason is that “Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma's political career has been largely in the Congress where he has played an active role in the appeasement of Bangladeshi and acted with great urgency and alacrity in taking steps for their protection.”

Hazarika further added that giving such opinions in public being a Chief Minister  not only weakens the case but is an affront and insult to the Assam Movement, Assam Accord and the sacrifices of the indigenous people in their fight for identity over the last 40 years.

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