Land, language, employment avenues of locals will be protected: Chief Minister

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that “land, language, employment opportunities of locals will be protected”. He stated this while interacting with the representatives of the Axom Xahitya Xabha (AXX) and the literary bodies of other indigenous communities of the State at the conference hall of Brahmaputra State Guest House here on Tuesday. The Chief Minister explained the State government’s stand on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and other relevant issues in the meeting.

Saying that rights of the indigenous people over the land, language, local bodies, panchayat, employment opportunities will be protected with proper implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord, the Chief Minister stated that misinformation and rumours have been spread by various agencies in the society that foreigners in hordes will flock the State after the passing of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which is false. Calling on the Axom Xahitya Xabha and all indigenous bodies to make the people aware about correct ramifications of the Bill and Clause 6 implementation, Sonowal asserted that language and culture of indigenous people will not be allowed to get threatened as the government is committed to safeguard their interests.

It is a national policy and responsibility of the people belonging to six religions seeking domicile in India from the neighbouring countries because of religious persecution would be shared by the whole country, he remarked. Saying that a false picture has been given of the Bill being anti-Assam which must not be allowed to persist, Sonowal said that state government is made up of indigenous sons of the soil which is committed to uphold the interest of the local people. That is why the government is giving land pattas to the landless indigenous people of state and taking all necessary steps to sustain the indigenous people’s control over the land and culture of the State.

Allaying the fears that interest of the existing Scheduled Tribe (ST) people will be affected by granting ST status to six communities of the state, Chief Minister Sonowal said that all measures will be taken to protect the present reservations enjoyed by the existing ST communities of the State.

Other topics that came up for discussion in the meeting were implementation of Assam Language Bill, using the Assamese language in official correspondence of the state government, enlisting Assamese language fonts in Uniocde etc.

Media Adviser to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami, Chief Secretary Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Lohia, President of Asom Sahitya Sabha Dr. Paramananda Rajbongshi, President of Bodo Sahitya Sabha Kamala Kanta Mushahary along with representatives of other indigenous literary bodies were present in the meeting among others.

Also Read: Chief Minister on Citizenship Bill