In a significant development New Delhi on Wednesday said that it will setup a committee to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. New Delhi further said that no decision will be taken compromising the interests of the people of Assam.
“For the implementation of the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord a committee will be setup very soon,” said Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal quoting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.
Clause 6 of Assam accord gives constitutional protection to indigenous people of Assam.
Chief Minister Sonowal and senior officials from Dispur had a detailed discussion with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and several other senior officials of the Home Ministry at North Block over two vital issues including NRC update and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The meeting continued for almost two hours.
“The Home Minister said that Centre will provide all possible help including deployment of paramilitary forces to maintain law and order during the final draft publication of NRC,” said Sonowal.
As directed by the Supreme Court, Dispur will publish the final draft NRC on June 30. “During the first draft NRC publication, we have received the support of the people of Assam. We hope this time too we will get the same support,” said Sonowal after his meeting with Rajnath Singh.
“There will be opportunity for everyone to make claims and objections of NRC publications, said Sonowal.
Referring to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Sonowal reiterated that people of Assam should not be afraid.
“Our government will definitely consult everyone before taking any decision. And I don’t think that people of Assam should be afraid over the Citizenship Bill issue,” reiterates Sonowal.
On Tuesday, senior officials from Assam including DGP Kuladhar Saikia had a detailed discussion with senior Home Ministry officials over deployment of paramilitary forces to maintain law and order situation in the state.
According to the sources, both New Delhi and Dispur don’t want to take any risk as far as security of the people of Assam is concerned. “We have undertaken all necessary arrangements to maintain law and order ahead of the final NRC publication,” said a senior state government official.