Assam Govt taking steps to evict illegal foreigners, says Chief Minister Sonowal

Guwahati: Assam's Chief Minister on the occasion of the nation's 74th Independence Day reiterated the state government's commitment to implementing Clause 6 of the historic Assam Accord, which pertains to "safeguarding, preserving and promoting Assamese identity and heritage."

Sonowal, addressing the people from the Judges' Field venue, stated that the state government is committed to implementing the Assam Accord and are taking steps to rid Assam of illegal encroachers.

Sonowal said that despite problems faced due to COVID-19 and other disasters like flood, the state government and the Centre have initiated steps to ensure the implementation of Clause 6.

Stating that the implementation of the 1985 Assam Accord requires the complete sealing of the Indo-Bangla border in Assam, Sonowal said that composite fencing and use of technology to protect the riverine border points have been undertaken in this regard.

The CM also added that the government has framed a new land policy and taken steps to provide land deeds to nearly 1 lakh landless people. He added that for the preservation and propagation of the Assamese language, a law has been enacted to include Assamese as a language in all the schools except areas in the Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD) and Barak Valley.

Lauding the state's farmers for their dogged resilience in spite of the lockdown period from March to July, farmers were able to sell fruits and vegetables worth Rs 852 crore to other states and export as well.

Sonowal said that besides COVID-19, Assam has faced annual floods, landslides, Japanese encephalitis, African swine fever as well as the blowout and fire at a natural gas well in Baghjan. He offered his condolences to the people who were killed in these natural calamities.

It is to be noted that Assam on Saturday celebrated a "low-key" Independence Day amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led the celebrations in Guwahati by unfurling the tricolour followed by the guard of honour ceremony.

Similar celebrations were held at all 33 district headquarters which were attended by cabinet ministers.

Notably, the state's main Independence Day event was held at Judges' Field in Guwahati after a gap of 12 years as the traditional venue of the playground of College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara has been transformed into a COVID care centre.

Also Watch: Newsmakers: Sizal Agarwal, 112 Rank Holder, UPSC 2019 with Oineetom Ojah