Brief Context
Context Recently, the Assam government has announced that a broad consensus has been reached on most of the recommendations made under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, 1985. About the Assam Accord (1985) It was signed on August 15, 1985, between the Government of India, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP). It marked the end of a six-year-long anti-foreigner agitation in Assam (1979–1985), which was driven by concerns over large-scale illegal immigra
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Syllabus: GS2/Government Policy & Intervention
Context
- Recently, the Assam government has announced that a broad consensus has been reached on most of the recommendations made under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, 1985.
About the Assam Accord (1985)
- It was signed on August 15, 1985, between the Government of India, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP).
- It marked the end of a six-year-long anti-foreigner agitation in Assam (1979–1985), which was driven by concerns over large-scale illegal immigration from Bangladesh and its impact on the state’s demography, culture, and economy.
Key Provisions of the Accord
- Cut-off Date for Citizenship: All foreigners who entered Assam before January 1, 1966 were to be granted citizenship.
- Those who came between January 1, 1966, and March 24, 1971 would be detected and allowed to stay after registering as foreigners for 10 years.
- Those who entered after March 24, 1971, were to be detected and deported.
- Clause 6 of the Assam Accord: It promised ‘constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards’ to protect the ‘cultural, social, and linguistic identity’ of the Assamese people.
- Border Security: The Accord called for the sealing and fencing of the India-Bangladesh border to prevent further illegal immigration.
- Detection and Deportation Mechanism: A mechanism was to be established for the detection and deportation of illegal immigrants, including the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Concerns & Challenges
- The definition of ‘Assamese people’ under Clause 6 remains unresolved, complicating the provision of safeguards.
- The NRC update, completed in 2019, excluded over 1.9 million people, leading to legal and humanitarian challenges.
- The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, has further complicated the situation by offering a path to citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from neighboring countries, which many in Assam view as a violation of the Accord.