Rules of Citizenship amendment Act will strike a balance: Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that rules of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will strike a balance between disadvantageous Hindus seeking Indian citizenship and Assam's interest.

He said that recommendation of the clause 6 panel of Assam Accord was far from legal reality and not in conformity with Supreme Court's ruling.

Sarma while interacting with audience during the release of his book "chasing a dream", he said, "the rules of CAA will strike balance between disadvantageous Hindus seeking citizenship and protection of Assam's interest. "


The minister said he, along with other chief ministers of Northeast India, urged union home minister Amit shah to keep Northeast India out ambit of CAA. " I take pride as Hindu. I am Hindu first. The though process that Bharat and Assam are different is contrary to the preaching of Srimanta Sankardev."

Shankardev is 15th century saint-reformer of Assam. He said that in 2016 BJP's manifesto talked about safeguarding jati, mati and bheti (race, land and hearth) was misinterpreted. " This time we are making things clear in manifesto with staunch nationalism. Assam's identity is clearly related to Indian. Last election menifesto was understood in letters and not spirits. "

He added, " Hindus all over the world is our brother. How can BJP's manifesto in Assam can be different from national manifesto of Lok Sabha polls of 2014.From manifesto of 2016 we were seen as Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) of 1985."

Sarma said that those who believe in Hindu culture are Hindus. He said BJP will include in its manifesto certain provisions whereby land cannot be transferred in certain circumstances and to certain people.

Assam witnessed bitter protest in 2019 and early 2020 when the CAA — which aims to make minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible to apply for Indian citizenship — was passed by Parliament.

BJP leaders have said CAA rules are drafted and was delayed due to covid19 pandemic.

Assam governor Jagdish Mukhi stated recently that clause 6 panel report of Assam accord is being examined by the Government from legal point of view. Clause 6 provides for constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

On August 11 last year, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) had made public recommendations of the panel in a media conference. AASU had three members in the panel.

Sarma said that clause 6 panel in fact has not come out with recommendation but expectation. " How can there be a 100 percent reservations of jobs when supreme Court's Constitution bench has stated that there cannot be more than 50 percent reservation. "

The clause 6 panel has recommended that till deportation of post-1971 stream of declared foreigners is completed, they should be resettled in areas outside Assam as an interim measure. The panel also gave a definition of ‘Assamese’. The panel is of the opinion that to give full effect to its recommendations several constitutional and legislative amendments will be necessitated. The existing Article 371-B in the Constitution will need to be amended, it has said.

Sarma said government is already implementing provisions of clause 6." Because of my believe I have at times stood apart like recently state government released a book on Assam Agitation and instead of giving history of why the cut of date of 1971was taken instead of 1951.my suggestion was government must through open archives and correspondence of government during that period. I spoke it despite knowing the fact Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal was deeply involved with the process of bringing out the book. "

Assam Accord inked after six yearlong foreigners’ movement (1979-1985) provides foreigners who entered the state after the cut-off date of March 24, 1971, irrespective of their religious affiliation must be deported.