In a significant development for Assam's political landscape, Minister Atul Bora has informed the state assembly that crucial tripartite discussions concerning the implementation of the Assam Accord are likely to be held by January next year. The talks will involve the Central government, the state government, and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), which is a signatory to the historic 1985 Accord.
Government's Push for Dialogue
Responding to a query from AGP legislator Ramendra Narayan Kalita regarding the Union government's current stance on the Accord, Minister Bora provided a detailed update. He revealed that following a specific request from the AASU leadership, the state government is now actively working to facilitate these high-level talks. The discussions will specifically focus on the report submitted by the Justice (Retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee concerning Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.
Bora further elaborated on the government's efforts, stating that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has personally engaged with the Union Home Ministry, the nodal agency for implementing the Accord. "Contact has already been established with the home ministry. The chief minister has also discussed the matter on several occasions," Bora told the assembly. He confirmed that with AASU wanting the tripartite talks to occur by January, the Chief Minister has taken all necessary measures to make it happen.
Understanding Clause 6 and the Voter List Concern
Clause 6 of the Assam Accord is a pivotal section that mandates constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve, and promote the cultural, social, and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. Minister Bora expressed optimism, informing the house that recent discussions with AASU regarding the Sharma Committee report have been successful, paving the way for the broader talks.
Meanwhile, the assembly session also addressed concerns related to the state's indigenous population. The leader of the opposition and Congress MLA, Debabrata Saikia, raised alarms over reports suggesting that the ongoing special revision (SR) of the voter list in Assam might allow a large number of individuals from other states to enroll. He questioned whether the government would address this pressing issue in relation to the rights and existence of Assam's indigenous communities.
Government's Assurance on Voter List
In response, Minister Atul Bora firmly dismissed this speculation. He provided assurances that the process is standard and that only individuals from other states who are currently working and residing in Assam will be included in the voter list during the SR process ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
"The election commission has informed that this is a normal revision of the voter list, as is usually done before elections," Bora clarified to the assembly. "If someone is residing in Assam because of their job, only such citizens will be added to the voter list, not others." This statement aimed to allay fears and reinforce the government's commitment to protecting the demographic integrity of the state.
