The Union Cabinet on Wednesday took a path-breaking decision on the Assam Accord and has decided to set up a high level committee to come up with specific recommendations on clause 6 of the Assam Accord to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to the Assamese people.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said after the cabinet meeting that the committee will look into the entire gamut of implementation of Assam Accord from 1985 till date.
The committee will also look into the demand for reservation in the Assam assembly including issues like who would be entitled for such reservations.
Rajnath Singh also said that the committee would also recommend measures to be undertaken for protection of Assamese and other indigenous languages besides steps for preservation of the identity culture and heritage of the people of Assam.
The Ministry of Home Affairs will come up with the detailed terms of reference for this committee, said the Union Minister.
The Union Cabinet also took some major decisions on demands from the Bodo heartland. He said although the Bodo Accord was signed in 2003 and a autonomous council constituted, there were several demands from various quarters.
The Cabinet has decided that concerned agencies would set up a Bodo language museum, modernise the existing All India Radio station in Kokrajhar, revive and modernise the existing Doordarshan Kendra and name high speed trains passing through Bodo areas as Aronai Express.
Rajnath Singh described these as path breaking decisions for Assam. He also said that the BJP led govt at the Centre had amended the Citizenship Act that ultimately gave the desired push for updation of the NRC in the state.
The review meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura.
In total, around 1,200-1,400 houses primarily belonging to Bengali-speaking Muslims, were demolished during the eviction…