Seeking to douse the fire in Assam over proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill, the Centre on Wednesday agreed to set up a committee to look into the issue raised by the Assam Government and the protesters. Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal that all stakeholders and the people of Assam will be taken into confidence before a final call.
Sonowal requested the Home Minister to set up a committee to make recommendations for the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord which provides for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people.
“The Home Minister said that there should be no apprehension in minds of the people of Assam about the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The Home Minister has assured that before taking any step, the people of Assam will be taken into confidence. All stakeholders will be consulted,” Sonowal told reporters in Delhi after meeting Rajnath.
Assam has been witnessing protests against the Central Government’s move to enact the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India due to religious persecution in those countries. Organisations spearheading the protests said that the Bill, if passed, would pave the way for giving citizenship to illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in Assam.
Sonowal also said all efforts would be made to address the concerns of the people of Assam in this regard.
The assurance regarding setting up of the committee to ensure implementation of clause 6 of the Assam Accord assumes significance as it provides for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
The meeting also discussed the arrangements required to dispose of claims and objections after publication of draft National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The Assam Chief Minister emphasised that adequate opportunity is given to people in this regard and necessary arrangements are made to avoid any inconvenience to public and all claims and objections are disposed of as per law and in a proper manner. He also emphasised that a strong IEC campaign may be launched to inform people about process of filing claims and objections after publication of final draft NRC.
“The NRC updation process is going on smoothly in the State under the guidance of the Supreme Court of India and it is on the verge of completion. Both the Central and State Governments are extending full support for seamless progress of the NRC updation and the second draft would be published on June 30,” Sonowal said, while urging the people not to panic if any of their names are not included in the drafts as they would be given ample opportunity to register their claims and objections in the courts and each of them would get equal opportunity.
Several organisations in Assam are opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, on the pretext that it will legitimise lakhs of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who had been living in Assam.
According to the Assam Accord, it was agreed that those who entered Assam till midnight of March 24, 1971 will be granted Indian citizenship but those came after the cut-off date will have to be detected and deported. It is believed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 will violate the clauses of Assam Accord and grant citizenship to those illegal immigrants particularly Hindu Bengalis, who came to Assam till 2014.