Committee set up by MHA on Assam meets Shah
January 13, 2020 15:17
A high-level committee, set up by the home ministry to suggest ways for providing constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people of Assam, on Monday met Union home minister Amit Shah and discussed with him issues related to its work.
A four-member delegation of the committee, headed by Justice (Retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma, met the home minister for an hour and briefed him about the progress of its work.
"We have apprised the home minister about the progress of our work. The home minister has given a few suggestions. We hope to submit our final report within next 15 days," Sharma told reporters.
The committee with more than a dozen members was set up as per the Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord.
According to its terms and conditions, "The committee will assess the appropriate level of reservation of seats in Assam Legislative Assembly and local bodies for the Assamese people."
"The committee will recommend the appropriate level of reservations in employment under the government of Assam for the Assamese people," according to a home ministry notification.
Asked whether the panel could finalise the "definition of Assamese", the retired judge said they were yet to take a decision on it and hope to come to a conclusion soon.
"All members of the committee will soon meet to finalise the report and all remaining issues to be resolved," he said.
The meeting took place four days after Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met the home minister and discussed with him various aspects of the Assam Accord's Clause 6, under which the central government had promised to provide constitutional safeguards to the indigenous people.
The committee is said to have completed its deliberations and discussions with various stakeholders in Assam.
The meeting was held amidst widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Assam. It bears significance as there has been a growing feeling among the indigenous people of Assam that the newly enacted legislation will hurt their interests -- both politically, culturally as well as socially. -- PTI
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