Define ‘indigenous’ before amending Accord: Ajmal

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 7: AIUDF president and Dhubri MP Badruddin Ajmal has said that the term ‘indigenous’ should be defined before thinking of bringing any amendment to the Assam Accord.

In a statement issued to the press today, Ajmal said: “Before bringing any amendment to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord to give a constitutiol safeguard to the indigenous people of the State, the term ‘indigenous’ should be defined first by holding discussion with all sections of people of the State. If the decision is taken after a discussion with the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) alone, the opinions of the people of the State will be neglected.” Ajmal questioned as to why the need of amendment to the Assam Accord arose some 30 years after it had been signed. “This move is a conspiracy hatched by the government to pave the way for NRC update,” he said, and added: “This is a ploy to put hurdles before the NRC update.”