Bijoya Chakraborty
Bijoya Chakraborty. File image

Amid ongoing National Register of Citizen (NRC) updating process, BJP MP Bijoya Chakraborty has demanded in the Parliament to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to protect the interests of the indigenous people of Assam.

In a letter written to the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Chakraborty said, “I want to draw the attention towards the identity crisis of indigenous Assamese people…migrants from Bangladesh are procuring Aadhaar cards and Indian passport illegally by producing doubtful legacy documents and submitting the same for NRC to show themselves as India.”

She said that the Clause 6 of 1985 Assam Accord be implemented strictly, else name of Assam will only remain in history.

Her statement also assumes significance as many genuine Indians in Assam are reportedly not getting their names in the NRC list. The issue has already created a huge hue and cry in the State with different political parties and students’ bodies demanding for an error-free NRC.

“Some of the indigenous people find it extremely difficult to get their names registered in the NRC due to non-availability of relevant documents with them…as such in the sensitive areas of district of Assam these “Muslims” become majority in 17 districts over indigenous people ,” the Lok Sabha MP from Guwahati wrote in her letter.

According to the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, the Central Government needs to come up with constitutional, legislative and administrative measures to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the indigenous people and communities of the State.