Clause 6 panel of Assam accord must reserve 21 assembly seats for indigenous communities: Committee

GUWAHATI: Around 21 organisations representing indigenous Assamese Muslims communities stated that 14 member high power clause 6 committee of Assam Accord must consider reservation of 21 assembly seats for the indigenous communities in the state.

Assam has 126 assembly seats. Syed Muminul Aowal, who also Assam Minorities Development Board (AMDB) chairperson and BJP spokesperson said that that the delegation of 21 organisations had met chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday with the demands for reservation of assembly seats, setting up upper house in the assembly for representation from those indigenous communities who have no presence in the assembly since independence and ensuring constitutional safeguards are only for indigenous people.

Aowal said, “Between 1951 and 1971 at least 50 lakh migrants who had settled in Assam became citizen. Many of the indigenous people in at least 21 assembly seats have lost their political representation as thousands of migrants became citizens under the March 24, 1971 cut-off date for citizenship in the Assam Accord. So, our appeal is that at least 21 assembly seats where indigenous people had become minority should be reserved for them,”

As per Assam accord the date of detection and deportation of foreigners is March 25, 1971 irrespective of religious affiliation, while for rest of India the date of detection and deportation of foreigners in 1951.

The 14 member high level committee will examine the effectiveness of actions taken since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

Clause 6 provides for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

The committee will assess the appropriate level of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people.

The committee will also suggest measures to be taken to protect the Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam. The committee will also recommend the appropriate level of reservation in employment under the Government of Assam for the Assamese people. It will also suggest any other measures as may be necessary to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. The committee will submit its report within six months from the date of notification.