Sonowal submits Clause 6 committee report to Amit Shah

March 20: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal submitted the Clause 6 Committee report to Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. On Thursday, CM Sonowal called on Shah at his residence at around 8:30 in the evening and submitted the 150-page report.

Sarbananda Sonowal on 25 February received the report of the high level Clause 6 Committee of Assam Accord. The Chairperson of the Clause 6 Committee and former Gauhati High Court judge Biplab Kumar Sarma handed over the report to the CM Assam in the presence of finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other ministers of his Cabinet.

The high level committee formed for taking a call on the implementation of the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord formed by the centre had completed its report on 10 February. However, the committee submitted its final report to the Chief Secretary of Assam on 19 February as neither the Home Ministry nor the state government responded to receive the report at that time.

As per sources, the nearly-150 page report has the definition of “Assamese people” and has a number of recommendations for effective implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. The recommendations have triggered a wave of criticism in the state over the 1951 cut-off date to make one eligible for benefits under Clause 6.

Clause 6 of the Accord Accord states that “Assamese people” would be granted “constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate” to “protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage.”