GUWAHATI, Feb 23 - The Centre is likely to reconstitute a high-level committee to suggest measures for the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. This was stated by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP national vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan here today.
Addressing a press conference, Chouhan said the Narendra Modi-led Central government has taken steps to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord which provides constitutional guarantees to protect the State�s indigenous communities.
On being pointed out that some members named for the high-level committee have refused to be a part of it, Chouhan said, �Three have resigned. Phir se banayenge, phir se karenge (We will do it again)... by reconstituting the committee. But the main task is to ensure the preservation of the Assamese language, culture, literature, tradition and value, and we will accomplish this.�
The Centre had in early January constituted a high-level committee headed by retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer MP Bezbaruah to suggest measures for the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.
However, four members of the committee, including its chairman Bezbaruah, expressed their inability to be a part of the committee. The other members who refused to be a part of the committee are two former presidents of the Asam Sahitya Sabha - Dr Nagen Saikia and Rong Bong Terang, and educationist Mukunda Rajbongshi. The All Assam Students� Union (AASU) also refused to be a part of the committee until the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is withdrawn.
Chouhan said Assam has made progress in all sectors under the BJP-led governments headed by Modi in New Delhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Dispur. He mentioned steps taken to improve rail, road and air connectivity in the North East, new bridges across the Brahmaputra being sanctioned and different social welfare measures taken up by the government.
�Since assuming office, Modi has visited Assam 16 times. On the other hand, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, despite being elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, did nothing for the State. The allocation to the North East in the Union Budget has been hiked by 21 per cent by the NDA government. The allocation under the 14th Finance Commission to this region has been doubled as compared to the 13th Finance Commission,� said the senior BJP leader.
He exuded confidence about a BJP victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
�BJP will come back to power with a bigger majority than what we got five years ago. And Modi will again form the NDA government. In Assam, the BJP will achieve unprecedented success and the State will make a major contribution to the formation of the next Modi government,� Chouhan said.
He accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of spreading �lies�. �Congress is only indulging in politics of blame game. Rahul Gandhi is the biggest liar in the Indian political field... The Congress is playing politics even on the matter of Pulwama attacks in which so many of our brave soldiers were martyred,� Chouhan added.
