‘Reserve 18 LACs For Indigenous’ Says Janagosthiya Samannay Parishad (JSP)

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Janagosthiya Samannay Parishad (JSP), a conglomerate of 21 indigenous Muslim organizations of Assam, has appealed to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to keep all those who got Indian citizenship under the Assam Accord from 1951 to 1971 outside the ambit of constitutional safeguards under its Clause 6, reserve 18 LACs (Legislative Assembly Constituencies) for indigenous people of the State, accommodate all unrepresented communities in the ALA (Assam Legislative Assembly) through reservation in the proposed Member of Legislative Council (MLC) or upper house.

Addressing the press in Guwahati on Sunday, JSP convenor Muminul Aowal, who is also the chairman of the Assam Minority Development Board (AMDB), said, “We met the Chief Minister on Saturday and raised a slew of demands before him. From 1951 to 1971 around 50 lakh people illegally entered Assam and got citizenship here in accordance with the Assam Accord. While accommodating these 50 lakh people in various places in the State, the indigenous people have been facing untold sufferings. Indigenous people like Koch-Rajbongshis, Tiwas, Rabhas, Desis and others are now minorities in their own areas. The East Bengal origin people have been dominating in around 18 constituencies in the State. Thus, this augurs well to reserve all these 18 LACs for the indigenous people. The 18 LACs are Mankachar, Dakshin Salmara, Dhubri, Bilasipara West, Goalpara East, Goalpara West, Bagbor, Sorukhetri, Chenga, Jania, Lahorighat, North Abhoyapuri, Jaleswar, Dhing, Rupahihat, Jamunamukh and Naoboicha.”

JSP convenor Aowal said: “We want that all those who got citizenship here from 1951 to 1971 should be kept outside the ambit of the Constitutional safeguards under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. And this appeal applies to the high-power committee constituted for the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Giving constitutional safeguard shouldn’t have any cut-off year and this safeguard should be given to all indigenous people of the State. The 50 lakh erstwhile East Bengal origin people got citizenship here, and we don’t want them to get constitutional safeguard too in the State.”

On the representation of unrepresented communities in the Assam Assembly, Aowal said: “Even after 70 years after India’s Independence, there are many communities in Assam who haven’t got representation in the State Assembly. We want such communities be given representation through reservation in the proposed MLC.”

Aowal further said that they would meet the high-power committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, all the MLAs and the Speaker of the State Assembly, besides taking public opinion on these issues.

The representatives of 21 indigenous Muslim organizations of the State were also present at the press meet.

Also Read: Assam Accord: Rights Over Land, Parliament Seats for Assamese Stressed