Assam Assembly Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi on Wednesday announced in the State Assembly that he would initiate a wide ranging and all-inclusive consultation for reaching a consensus and acceptable definition of the “Assamese people”. Members of the House, cutting across their party lines, pledged their support to the initiative taken by the Speaker.
This definition is required to implement the clause six of the Assam Accord which promises that “constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”
Assam Accord Implementation minister Bhumidhar Barman on Tuesday informed the House that the State Government had not been able to finalise the definition of “Assamese people” as some socio-cultural organisations including the Asam Sahitya Sabha were yet to submit their views on the issue to the cabinet sub-committee. The cabinet sub-committee was formed in 2006 to examine various issues related to this clause, including the definition of Assamese people.
Describing the matter as “very sensitive” the Speaker cautioned the members of the House against discussing it in the open and announced that he would initiate a consultation with all groups and sections of the people to reach a consensus and would also involve the government, if required.
The Speaker made the announcement when All India United Democratic Front member Aminul Islam sought to move a call attention motion to draw the attention of the Assam Accord Implementation minister Bhumidhar Barman on the issue. He underlined the need for taking every community into confidence and to keep in mind their sensitivities before arriving at any conclusion on a sensitive matter like definition of “Assamese people.”
The Speaker also urged the members to reflect on the adverse consequences of “emotionally imposing” the Assamese language as the state language in the past. Mr. Gogoi, however, said that all tribes and communities of Assam must live in co-existence and cautioned: “If we are not united our identity cannot be protected. If we go separately our existence will be endangered.”
