Organisations opposed to Citizenship Bill have slammed the BJP-led Central government’s decision to form a high level committee to facilitate implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord.
Leading the attack against the Centre, All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has termed the Union Cabinet’s decision a hog wash and sans sincerity.
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Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)-led 70 organisations termed it a ‘diversionary tactics’ by the Centre against the rising opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the state.
AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharrya said, “There was nothing new in the Centre’s announcement of constitution of a high powered committee for implementation of Clause 6.”
Clause 6 of Assam Accord, says, “Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”
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“A sub-committee headed by the then Union home ministry joint secretary GK Pillai was constituted in 1998 to look into the implementation of the Clause 6. Why can’t the 1998 committee be revived and resume work? What was the necessity of announcing a new committee only few months before completion of terms of the present central government?” Bhattacharya said.
AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath lambasted the Centre for its double standard. He said the government is striving to get Citizenship (Amendment) Bill passed and at the same time has announced a high-powered committee to protect indigenous people of the state.
KMSS adviser Akhil Gogoi said the Centre wanted mollify the people of Assam who are against the Citizenship Bill, by announcing the high-powered committee for implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord.
“People of Assam cannot be fooled by these diversionary tactics. The Citizenship bill is a threat to Assam’s identity, and people are not going to allow citizenship to migrants from Bangladesh at any cost,” Gogoi said.