Congress leader Ripun Bora calls Supreme Court's decision on Assam Accord a historic moment for Assam

Assam Congress leader Ripun Bora hailed the Supreme Court's ruling affirming the validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which recognizes the Assam Accord, as a landmark decision for the people of Assam. Speaking to India Today NE, Bora stated the significance of the judgment delivered by a five-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India.

"This is a very historic judgment," Bora said expressing his approval as both a Congress member and an Assamese citizen. He spoke on the Assam Accord of August 15, 1985, which was initiated under the leadership of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Bora highlighted that the Accord established March 25, 1971, as the cutoff date for detecting and deporting illegal migrants, a consensus that resonated across the diverse population of Assam, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion.

"The Accord was accepted by all the people of Assam, including various political parties. It marked the end of the Assam agitation and paved the way for peace and development in our state," he said.

However, Bora criticized the current BJP government, particularly Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, for creating confusion regarding the cutoff date for citizenship. He pointed out that despite the clear provisions established by the Assam Accord, there have been attempts to shift the cutoff date to 1951, a move that has stirred unrest and uncertainty among the populace.

"Over the past few years, we have witnessed a deliberate attempt by the BJP and other forces to sow confusion regarding this issue," Bora said. He said that the judgment from the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the longstanding cutoff date of March 25, 1971, which was also enshrined in the Constitution with the incorporation of Section 6A into the Citizenship Act of 1955.

"Today's ruling is a victory for truth and justice. It has clarified the legal standing of the Assam Accord and will hopefully put an end to the confusion created by the current regime," Bora said. He expressed optimism that this judgment would foster an environment of stability and further development in Assam, allowing the state to continue on its path of progress.

Bora urged all political parties to respect the Supreme Court's decision and work together for the benefit of Assam, emphasizing the need for unity in addressing the state's challenges and pursuing collective development.

Earlier in the day, in a majority verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, which grants Indian citizenship to immigrants who came to Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, stated that the Assam Accord represented a political solution to the problem of illegal migration, with Section 6A inserted into the Citizenship Act as a special provision to address the citizenship status of individuals covered under this Accord.

The Chief Justice, in his opinion, emphasized the higher magnitude of migrant influx in Assam compared to other states, given its smaller land size and the elaborate process required for detecting foreigners. Justices Surya Kant, M M Sundresh, and Manoj Misra concurred with the CJI, affirming that Parliament had the legislative competence to enact such a provision. The majority verdict held that the cutoff date of March 25, 1971, for granting citizenship is correct, adding that the mere presence of different ethnic groups in a state does not infringe upon Article 29(1) of the Constitution.

However, Justice J B Pardiwala dissented, labeling Section 6A as unconstitutional. The bench ultimately rejected petitions questioning the constitutional validity of Section 6A, which specifically grants citizenship benefits to illegal immigrants—primarily from Bangladesh—who entered Assam during the designated period.