TAG: GS-2: GOVERNANCE
CONTEXT: Recently, a Ministry of Home Affairs appointed committee on implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord has proposed a definition for ‘Assamese people’ in its report.
EXPLANATION:
What is the issue?
- Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal to set up a high-level committee to look into the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord of 1985.
- It is imperative to understand the significance of Clause 6, especially in the context of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
What is Clause 6 of the Assam Accord?
- Assam Accord came at the culmination of a movement against immigration from Bangladesh.
- For recognition as citizens, the Accord sets March 24, 1971, as the cutoff date.
- It was proposed that the immigrants up to the cutoff date would get all rights as Indian citizens.
- So, Clause 6 was inserted to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the “Assamese people”.
- It seeks to offer constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to the Assamese people.
- “Assamese people” – As agreed by most stakeholders, the NRC of 1951 was the basis for defining “Assamese people”.
- The current NRC update is based on March 24, 1971, which defines citizenship.
- On the other hand, Clause 6 relates to “Assamese people”.
- If 1951 is accepted as the cutoff, it would imply that those who migrated between 1951 and 1971 would be Indian citizens.
- However, they would not be eligible for safeguards meant for “Assamese people”.
Recommendation of the Committee:
- Definition of Assamese:The report proposes January 1951 as the cut-off date for any Indian citizen residing in Assam to be defined as an Assamese for the purpose of implementing Clause 6.
- Reservation for Assamese:The report seeks reservation for Assamese in Parliament, state assembly, local bodies. It recommended creating an Upper House (Legislative Council of Assam) whose seats will be reserved for the ‘Assamese people’.
- The report also seeks quotas in government jobs.
- Regulation of Outsiders:The report recommends regulation of entry of people from other states into Assam, which include the implementation of an Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in the state.
-
- The ILP is a system in which a special permit is required by people from other regions of India to visit the state.
- Currently the ILP is applicable in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.
What are the challenges?
- The AASU has described it as an effort to mislead people before pushing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
- The Bill proposes to grant citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from 3 countries including Bangladesh.
- This has divided residents of Brahmaputra Valley (mostly anti-Bill) and Barak Valley (pro-Bill).
- The government and the committee should thus consider these concerns too while deciding on the safeguards.
Source:
Spread the Word