Clause-VI High Level Committee Report; Barak MPs, MLAs urged to take proactive role 

Special Correspondent

Silchar: Silchar-based Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Seva Sanstha, a socio-cultural organisation, known for its voice of protest against discrimination and injustice to the linguistic and religious groups of Northeast, has been very much agitated over the issue of Clause VI of Assam Accord 1985. The High Level Committee headed by Justice B K Sarma has submitted its report on the implementation of Clause VI to the State government. This will now be sent to the Union Home Ministry for examination and observation to ensure that the identity and culture of the Assamese people is protected.

Netaji Subhash Sanstha vouches at the same time that the identity and culture of other ethnic, indigenous, linguistic and religious groups of the State are also protected. After all, Assam is a polyglot state and the implementation of Clause VI is to be done within the ambit of the Constitution and democratic framework of the country.

The Sanstha front-liners are not yet aware of the contents or details of the report, but there is apprehension that its implementation might culminate in curbing the fundamental rights of the Bengali minorities. This will lead to a sort of division and compartmentalisation in society, an ominous signal which should not happen. In order to discuss the issue, a meeting of representatives of Bengali community of Barak and Brahmaputra valleys was held here recently. A slew of resolutions were adopted and addressed to the MPs and MLAs elected on the major chunk of Bengali voters.

The elected representatives have been asked to take active part in discussion over the report of the High Level Committee when it is taken up during the budget session of the Assembly and pressurise the government to make the recommendations public. If the recommendations are found to affect or curb the fundamental rights of the Bengalis, the MLAs have been urged upon to raise their voice of dissent and protest against it in and outside the Assembly.

The Sanstha has noted with concern and dismay the silence and indifference of elected representatives, barring one or two, even in uttering a word on CAB and now CAA just for the sake of hanging on power. Netaji Seva Sanstha cautions if they continue to maintain the same posture, a unified movement of Bengalis, Hindus and Muslims, across both the valleys will be launched. The letters addressed to elected representatives were signed by a number of intellectuals, journalists and persons of diverse professions.

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