Assam Government and AASU Discuss Clause 6 Implementation

The Assam government and All Assam Students' Union (AASU) deliberated on implementing Justice Biplab Sarma committee's recommendations on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the recommendations will not apply in Barak Valley and Sixth Schedule areas without consent, focusing only on Brahmaputra Valley districts.

In a significant development, the Assam government and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) held discussions on Wednesday regarding the implementation of Justice (Retd) Biplab Sarma committee's recommendations on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, aiming to protect the interests of the indigenous population.

During a press conference, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the recommendations could not be enforced in the three districts of the Barak Valley and the autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule areas without the explicit consent of the local populations. These recommendations will be applicable solely to the districts of the Brahmaputra Valley, he clarified.

The committee's report, divided into three segments, includes 40 recommendations for exclusive state implementation, 12 for joint implementation by both central and state governments, and 15 exclusively for the central government. The state and AASU plan to collaborate on the 40 recommendations related to land, culture, and linguistics. Established after protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, the committee's report was submitted in 2020.

(With inputs from agencies.)