Tarun Gogoi backs definition of ‘Assamese’ by MHA panel

By: Rokibuz Zaman
GUWAHATI: Three-time Assam CM and veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday supported the report prepared by the high-level committee on implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord constituted by the Union ministry of home affairs, which set 1951 as the year to determine “Assamese people”.
The report of the 14-member committee, submitted to the state government in February this year, was released to the press by four of its members on Tuesday.
“We were unable to find the definition of the Assamese word in our regime and we have to accept it. Today, they have given a definition in which everyone, every indian citizen — irrespective of religion, language, race, caste and community living in the state since 1951 or before — has been included in the definition. I have my support in this definition of the Assamese word,” Gogoi said at a press conference here.
He, however, added that the mechanism and method to identify people of 1951 or before is not there in the report. “One list has to be made. It has to be done very carefully,” he said. Gogoi also sought to know the opinion of the state government on the recommendations made by the committee.
The report said the definition of ‘Assamese people’ for the purpose of implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord should include indigenous tribals, as well as other indigenous communities of Assam, all other citizens of India residing in the territory of Assam on or before 01.01.1951, indigenous Assamese and their descendants.
Gogoi added that the Centre and Sonowal-led BJP government does not have any will to implement the Clause 6 report. He came down heavily on CM Sarbananda Sonowal and accused him of duping the people of the state.
Gogoi said, “Has any other government work gotten delayed for so long due to Coronavirus? Why the home ministry can’t publicly say that it has accepted the report and is working for it. The recommendations need to be drafted as a bill and then pass in Parliament as an Act before implementation. I can understand that the Covid situation may affect holding a Parliament session but at least the Centre can accept the recommendations and work on that. Sonowal is only fooling around.”
Sonowal, hours after the release of the report, had said the state government was committed to implementing the recommendations made in the report. Sonowal claimed that the proceeding was delayed due to the global pandemic.
“Sonowal has assured that he is committed to implementing Clause 6 of Assam Accord and ironically he is also committed to implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He doesn’t even know what he is committed to fulfill. Sonowal must stop thinking that the people of the state don’t understand his hollow words,” Gogoi said.