‘Cooperate in implementing Clause 6 of Assam Accord’: CM Sarbananda Sonowal

Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that Jyoti Prasad Agarwala with his life-long dedication has put Assam on a robust platform. His creations have given a new identity and dimension to Assamese culture in the world. Guided by his principles and philosophy the young generation needs to work to strengthen the thread of unity and take Assam forward.

Speaking at the State level Silpi Divas celebration organized by the Cultural Affairs Department in association with District Administration, Darrang at Mangaldoi District Auditorium on Thursday, Chief Minister Sonowal said that Jyoti Prasad Agarwala strengthened the edifice of cultural landscape of the State with his unparallel contributions.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal presented Silpi Award to eminent artistes Jagna Bezbaruah and Prasanta Kumar Bordoloi for the year 2019. The award carries a citation, anga bastra, xarai, and cheque worth Rs. 2 lakh. Chief Minister Sonowal said that in today’s age of science and technology, the people of Assam should be motivated by reason and rationality instead of being guided by sheer emotions. Emotions always do not help in forging a strong society. In this context, Sonowal urged upon the people of Assam to use their rational bent of mind and analyze the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill thoroughly. “Central Government taking decisions for the whole country is not a new phenomenon.

It has been doing that since 1947, the year the country gained its independence. Based on the national policy the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was drafted and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh elaborately explained the salient features of the Bill in both Houses of the Parliament,” Sonowal said. He also added that a section of vested interests is hell bound to create disturbances in Assam by spreading misinformation that 1.90 crore Bangladeshi will get citizenship as an outcome of the Bill. He also said that he being the son of the soil would under no circumstances allow his government to harm the interests of the indigenous people of the state.

Chief Minister Sonowal said that steps taken by the central government to provide constitutional safeguard to the indigenous people and granting ST status to six communities of the state would permanently secure interests of the local people. He also urged AASU, AGP, artist community and intelligentsia of the state to wholeheartedly extend cooperation in implementation of clause VI of the Assam Accord.

Stating that constitutional safeguard would act as an invincible shield to secure interests of the indigenous, Sonowal said that in states like Mizoram no one except locals could enjoy land and political rights only due to existing constitutional privileges. He moreover said that as a result of sincere efforts of the central and state governments, sealing of Indo-Bangladesh border would be complete soon. Besides, the major push given by the present dispensation in expeditious update of the NRC would also help in identifying the genuine and illegal citizens, he asserted.

Also Read: Centre going slow on the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord