Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet has approved the implementation of 57 out of the 67 recommendations put forth by the Justice (Retd) Biplab Sarma Commission, which was established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. The decision follows extensive deliberations on the commission’s proposals.
The recommendations, which aim to uphold the cultural, social, linguistic identity, and heritage of the Assamese people, will be implemented across the state with the exception of the 6th Schedule areas and the Barak Valley. In these regions, the recommendations will only be enforced following consultations with local authorities and residents.
For the remaining 10 recommendations, the Assam government plans to engage in further discussions with the Government of India. This step is crucial to ensure a comprehensive approach to the implementation process.
To facilitate the execution of these recommendations, the Cabinet has decided to form a Group of Ministers. This team will work closely with the All-Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and other stakeholders to develop a detailed roadmap and implementation strategy. The recommendations are scheduled to be fully implemented by April 15, 2025.
The Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma Committee, established by the MHA’s Northeast Division, was tasked with a swift and effective execution of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. This clause mandates constitutional, legislative, and administrative measures to safeguard the Assamese identity.
The panel’s recommendations, publicly revealed by AASU on August 11, 2020, include the temporary resettlement of declared foreigners, who arrived post-1971, outside Assam until their deportation is finalized. Additionally, the panel has proposed a definition for ‘Assamese’ and suggested several constitutional and legislative amendments, including changes to Article 371-B of the Constitution.
The Assam Accord, which concluded a six-year-long anti-foreigners’ movement (1979-1985), stipulates the deportation of foreigners who entered the state after the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, regardless of their religious affiliation.
This move by the Assam Cabinet marks a significant step towards fulfilling the assurances made under the Assam Accord, aiming to address long-standing concerns about the preservation of Assamese heritage and identity.
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