High-level Committee finalises Report on Clause 6, definition of Assamese given

February 11: The high level committee formed for taking a call on the implementation of the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord formed by the centre has completed its report on Monday. As per reports, 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.

Talking to media, Justice Biplap Kumar Sarma, Chairman of the Committee said, “While preparing the report, we’ve confronted the question – Who is an Assamese? We’re trying to give ‘a decisive definition as to who an Assamese is’.

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.”

The committee was given the responsibility to assess the appropriate level of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people and will also suggest measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam.

The 14-member committee was formed by the MHA on July 15, 2019 with respect to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord with retired Justice Biplap Kumar Sarma as its Chairman. The committee is going to submit its report to the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) on or before February 15.

The committee headed by former Gauhati High Court judge, Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma also include Subhash Das, IAS (Retd), Pallav Bhattacharya, IPS (Retd), Niloy Dutta,-Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh, Ramesh Borpatragohain-Advocate General of Assam, Wasbir Hussain-Senior Journalist, Prof. Srishtidhar Dutta (Retd), Prof. Jaikanta Sharma, Sumanta Chaliha-author, Samujjal Bhattacharya, Chief Adviser, All Assam Students Union (AASU), President & Secretary of AASU. Joint Secretary (North East) in the Ministry of Home Affairs will be the Member Secretary. However, not a single person from Barak Valley was included in this high level committee.