Empowering Assam: CM Himanta Sarma Commits to Transformative Assam Accord by April 15, 2025
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that his government will implement 52 out of the 57 recommendations of the Justice Biplab Sarma committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, aimed at safeguarding the interests of the indigenous people. These implementations will be completed by April 15, he confirmed.
Clause 6 of the Assam Accord mandates constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. The committee’s recommendations focus mainly on safeguarding the language and land rights of the indigenous population. Sarma mentioned that while 52 recommendations fall within the purview of the state government, five will require joint efforts with the central government, and the rest are under central jurisdiction.
The state cabinet had previously decided to implement 57 out of the committee’s 67 recommendations, which were thoroughly discussed to ensure the protection of the people’s land, language, and culture. The implementation strategy includes a time-bound action plan for the full execution of the 1985 Assam Accord.
Sarma also stated the recommendations would primarily be applicable in the Brahmaputra Valley, excluding the Barak Valley and the Sixth Schedule areas of Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Provisions like reserving 80% of seats for Assamese people in legislative bodies cannot be implemented in Barak Valley due to its diverse population; consultations will be held before deciding on their applicability.
In addition to implementing these recommendations, Sarma assured that the state government will vigorously pursue the central government to implement the remaining suggestions that may require constitutional amendments. The committee was initially set up in response to the widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019 and submitted its report in 2020.
The Assam Accord, signed in 1985 after a long anti-foreigner movement, includes clauses for identifying and deporting foreigners who entered Assam after March 25, 1971.
Original Story https://news.abplive.com/states/northeast/cm-himanta-sarma-pledges-to-enact-52-recommendations-of-assam-accord-committee-to-safeguard-indigenous-people-1715716
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