This story is from February 21, 2020

Centre's non-acceptance of Clause 6 report an insult: Akhil Gogoi

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti chief Akhil Gogoi on Thursday said the Centre's non- acceptance of the report on Assam Accord Clause 6 prepared by a high-level panel was an insult to the people of Assam.
Centre's non-acceptance of Clause 6 report an insult: Akhil Gogoi
Akhil Gogoi in custody
By: Syeda Ambia Zahan
GUWAHATI: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti chief Akhil Gogoi on Thursday said the Centre's non- acceptance of the report on Assam Accord Clause 6 prepared by a high-level panel was an insult to the people of Assam.
Clause 6 pledges to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social and linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

After getting no reponse from the MHA, the committee handed over the report containing review and suggestions to implement Clause 6 to the Assam Accord Department through the state chief secretary on Wednesday.
Alleging that the MHA has not accepted the report directly, Akhil said, "The Centre has insulted the people of Assam by not receiving the report of Clause VI. We want them to accept it directly from the committee and implement the suggestions."
Akhil has been in judicial custody since December last year following his arrest by the National Investigation Agency on various charges of UAPA and having links with CPI (Maoist) .

Talking to reporters while being taken to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital for a health check-up, the activist said, "The movement against the Citizenship Amendment Act needs to be intensified so that the government is compeled to scrap it." He was taken to hospital after he complained of bone ache along with eye and dental problems.
"If the government does not accept the Clause VI committee's report by March 15, it would be proved that the Centre is least bothered about Assam," Akhil said.
The Clause 6 committee led by Justice (retd) Biplab Kumar Sarma was formed by the MHA on July 15, 2019 for recommending safeguards to the Assamese within six months. Later, the time was extended by a month up to February 15.
"We completed our report on February 10 and I went to Delhi to submit it. But I was not given time. We have sent three letters to the ministry (on February 12, 13 and 14) to inform that we have completed the report and to say that the central government may instruct us on how to submit it. But we got no response," said Sharma, who is chairman of the panel.
He added, "We have done our job and we are not thinking much about this now."
During his visit to Kokrajhar on February 7, PM Narendra Modi had said the Centre would expedite steps to protect the indigenous identity of Assamese people as soon as the committee submits its report.
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