'My duty is done, I am not afraid'

Report on 'Assamese' definition property of House, CM can send it to the Centre with his suggestions, says Speaker

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 2: Making his stand clear on the tabling of the report on the Assamese definition in the Assembly on Tuesday, Speaker Prab Kumar Gogoi on Thursday said that he has done his duty by keeping the greater interests of Assamese tiols in mind. “I am not a person who is afraid...I have done what needed be done,” Gogoi said while interacting with reporters here.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday indirectly criticized the Speaker for not holding any discussions on the issue with some political parties, including the Congress, before placing the report in the House on Tuesday. The Chief Minister also said that there should be a debate in the Assembly on the issue before passing it.

The Speaker said, “For the interests of the people of the State, I gave my opinion on the Assamese definition in the report. I have also suggested steps which need to be taken for filizing the Assamese definition.”

“I have read out the whole report before the members present in the Assembly. When it was read out in the House, it became the property of the House and I have sent this property of the House to the Chief Minister who cannot reject it. The Chief Minister can now send the report to the Central government by adding his own views,” the Speaker added.

When told about questions raised by some quarters as to the basis of which rules, the Speaker has laid the report in the House, he said, “There are such provisions in the Assembly proceedings. Those who have raised such questions are ignorant about such provisions,” adding, “I laid the report in the House and now let me see what the government does with it.”  Rejecting some organizations’ claim that the 1951 NRC for Assam is not available in the State, the Speaker said, “Except Sivasagar and Dima Hasao districts and few border villages in Cachar district, the 1951 NRC is available for all other districts.”

The Speaker said the Supreme Court is also in favour of implementation of the Assam Accord for safeguarding the interests of indigenous people of the State. “I am hoping that the report on the Assamese definition placed in the Assembly will also be taken up by the apex court,” he added.

The Speaker also expressed fears that Assam will become another Tripura. It may be mentioned here that the indigenous tribal people in Tripura, who were once in majority, have been reduced to minority due to continuous influx of outsiders, including cross-border foreign tiols.

“On the day when the report was tabled, I came out of the House after attending the whole proceedings. I have done my work by keeping in mind the greater interests of Assamese tiols in particular, and the tion as a whole with the State and the ruling party. I have not breached any rules,” Speaker Gogoi said, adding, “If the ruling party high command wants to take any decision in this regard, they can take it.”