GUWAHATI, Dec 16 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that his government is committed to implement the Assam Accord in its true spirit.
�The government is committed to seal the Indo-Bangla border and the Centre is keen to complete the work at the earliest,� Sonowal said during a meeting.
NRC updation is another priority of the State Government as it would protect the interest of the indigenous people of the State, he said.
�The government is taking all steps to safeguard the interest of the indigenous people of the State and there should not be any misgiving about the government�s intent in this regard,� he said.
The government needs close cooperation of the civil society to make provisions for constitutional protection of the land and its people and was taking measures to formulate a new land policy so as to secure the land for the indigenous inhabitants of the State, he said.
The concept paper for the land policy would take views from all sections of society before putting it in Cabinet for approval. �Without land there can be no existence of the Assamese race and it is the government�s fundamental duty to protect it for the original inhabitants of the State and no compromise would be made in this regard,� Sonowal added. - PTI
Our Staff Reporter adds: Prominent social scientists, intellectuals, legal experts and public representatives while agreeing that constitutional safeguard is pertinent to the welfare of the indigenous communities of the State under the present circumstances, voiced for a pragmatic approach for fulfilment of the clauses of the Assam Accord with particular emphasis on Clause 6, 10 and 11.
Participating in a discussion held here on Friday under the initiative of the Assam Accord Implementation Department, government of Assam and supported by North East India Political Science Association and North East Policy Alternative, Kamal Narayan Choudhury, a legal expert pointed out that to secure the future of Assam the problem of infiltration has to be resolved along with safeguard for the indigenous people of the State.
He opined that there should be a provision for the State in line with Article 371 F which is enjoyed by the State of Sikkim. �The need of the hour is to protect the identity of the indigenous communities of the State and one of the steps towards that direction can be reservation of the seats in the Assembly for indigenous people of Assam,� said Choudhury adding that in the interest of the State, the process of granting ST status to the six communities must be expedited.
Choudhury also pointed out that Assam has already absorbed too many foreigners by accepting 1971 as the cut off year and it cannot afford to absorb any more.
President of North East India Political Science Association, Noni Gopal Mahanta while dwelling on the gravity of absorbing foreigners said that Assam accepted more foreigners with the cut off year of 1971 and under the prevailing situation it was important for chalking out a model for constitutional protection for the indigenous people.
Stressing for translating the clauses of the Assam Accord into action for ensuring constitutional, legal and administrative safeguards for the indigenous people, the participants said that both the State and the Central governments should shoulder their respective responsibilities to secure the interests of the indigenous people.
A section of participants, on the other hand, urged not to differentiate foreigners on the basis of religion and language while resolving the burning issue of the State.