Committee to review implementation of Assam Accord

Committee to review implementation of Assam Accord

Question: Which high-level committee is set up to review the implementation of Assam Accord?
(a) Parsekar committee
(b) Laxmitkanth committee
(c) Gogoi committee
(d) Bezbarauah committee
Answer: (d)
Related facts:

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  • An announcement is made for set-up of a high-level Bezbarauah Committee reviewing the implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord by Central Government. The committee will submit report within 6 months.
  • Clause 6 of Assam Accord provides “Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of Assamese people.”
  • Headed by Shri M.P. Bezbarauah, IAS (Retd.) , the committee will also comprise Shri Subhash Das, IAS (Retd.),  Dr. Nagen Saikia, Shri Dhiren Bezbaruah, Dr. Mukunda Rajbangshi, Shri Ramesh Borpatragohain, Shri Rongbong Terang, One representative of All Assam Students’ Union, Joint Secretary, MHA as Member Secretary.

About the committee:

  • This committee will examine the effectiveness of the actions taken since 1985 to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. The panel will hold discussions with various stakeholders of different sectors too.
  • The committee will also assess the appropriate level of reservation of seats for Assamese people in Assam Legislative Assemblies and Local Bodies.
  • The committee will recommend appropriate measures to be taken to protect Assamese and other indigenous languages of Assam.
  • The committee will recommend an appropriate level of reservation for Assamese people in state government.
  • The Committee may suggest other measures as may be necessary to protect, preserve and promote cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
  • The HLC will be serviced by the NE Division of MHA, Government of India.

Assam Accord:

  • It was a memorandum signed between Government of India and Assam Movement leaders on August 15, 1985. This was signed over the problem of illegal immigration in Assam leading to various threat and communal tension in Assam.
  • The present amendment in Citizenship Bill allows citizenship to members of minority community (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist etc.) from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan which is in contradiction with Assam Accord of 1985. The Assam Accord treats people as foreigner, who have arrived to Assam after 24 March, 1971.

Links:

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187212

https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/IN_850815_Assam%20Accord.pdf