GUWAHATI, Aug 11 - A few hours after the AASU made the recommendations of the high level Committee on Clause 6 public today, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asserted that the present State government is committed to ensure implementation of the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord in letter and spirit.
Sonowal also said that disclosing contents of the report at this juncture was �very unfortunate�.
The State Government is taking sincere steps to make the State free from illegal foreigners, the Chief Minister said adding that no government earlier showed any interest to form a Committee for implementation of Clause 6 of the Accord.
In a statement, the Chief Minister further said that certain political forces in the State do not wish the implementation of the Accord to take place. However, the present State Government sincerely desires its implementation, the Chief Minister said and added that the State government would not let the sacrifices of the martyrs of Assam Movement to go in vain. That is why the Central Government formed a high level committee under the chairmanship of retired Justice Biplob Kumar Sarma, the Chief Minister added.
The Chief Minister stated that the Central Government while taking steps for Constitutional safeguard of the indigenous people through implementation of the Clause 6 of the Accord formed a committee including leadership of All Assam Students Union as members. However, the AASU leadership did not respond to the Central Government�s move, the Chief Minister said. Though the Government took oral consent from all the members prior to constitution of the Committee, several members resigned from the Committee and as a result the entire process got stuck.
However, showing its commitment for implementation of the Accord, the Central Government again immediately constituted a 13-member Committee led by retired Justice Biplob Kumar Sarma. Earlier, the State Government made a request to Union Home Minister in this regard and the Home Ministry took immediate action. This reflects the goodwill of the Central and State Governments for implementation of the Assam Accord. Members of the AASU were also included in the Committee.
The Chief Minister further said that even though the State government is battling against flood, erosion, landslides, storm, African swine fever, Baghjan gas well fire etc. along with COVID-19, the Government continues its efforts sincerely to implement Clause 6 of the Accord. Simultaneously the Central Government is also taking steps in this regard.
