Sammilito Mancha plays crucial role regards Clause 6 of Assam Accord & Gandhi Bagh, submits Memorandum

November 17: A high level committee for taking a call on the implementation of the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord reached Silchar on Thursday morning to hold discussion with various stakeholders residing in Barak Valley. Many organisations appeared before the delegation and submitted their views. Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha, a leading social & cultural organisation of Cachar, Assam which is a  conglomeration of numerous socio-cultural groups.

In the memorandum which they submitted to the delegation, Sammilito raised the demand of need for arriving at a consensus definition of the terms ‘Assamese’ & ‘Khilonjiya’ before drafting any provisions related to these terms. They held that in the absence of any commonly accepted terminology, matters cannot just be placed within the framework of Clause 6 of Assam Accord.

The Mancha suggested to include all the citizens of Assam within the definition of ‘Assamese’ as the permanent residents geo-political space of Assam. They further raised the demand of amending Clause 6 & Clause 6 A of the Accord. They further demanded that all voters who voted in 2019 as per the voters list prepared by the Election Commission (a constitutional body) must be treated as permanent residents of Assam and all of them are to be protected under Clause 6. Demand was also raised co-opt members from diverse section of the people from Barak Valley.

In order to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all, Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha proposed to protect the interests of diverse linguistic and cultural groups of Assam on the basis of proportional reservation according to population pattern as an overarching principle.

Further, a delegation of the Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha also met Hrishikesh Goswami, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister and handed over a memorandum regarding Gandhi Bagh, Silchar. They informed Mr. Goswami how the Chairperson of Silchar Municipal Board leased huge amount of land to a private construction company for building an Amusement Park, star hotel and shopping Mall at Gandhi Bagh destroying the greenery.

Speaking to way2barak, Advocate Ajoy Roy, Secretary of Sammilito Sanskritik Mancha said, “We are trying all means within our capability to save Gandhi Bagh. Any conscious citizen can’t just afford to destroy green and pave way for the construction of jungle of concrete. We have submitted a memorandum to the Press Advisor of the Chief Minister. He listened to us with patience and assured to discuss the issue with the Chief Minister.”