Over the year the state of Assam has received the influx of refugees and illegal migrants from neighbouring East Pakistan and Bangladesh following the partition of 1947.There was huge influx of refugees from East Pakistan into Assam than later in late 1960 the atrocities committed by Pakistani Army in East Pakistan against Bengali minority pushed number of refugees in India between 1961 and 1971.Then after East Pakistan was liberated with India's assistance and after Bangladesh was established as independent country in 1971 there has been constant inflow of illegal migrant across border into Assam and this large scale migration of illegal foreigners pose a threat to their unique culture,language,their faith,political rights,their opportunity and their resources.So,this opposition by native Assamese against the large scale entry of illegal foreigner from East Pakistan and Bangladesh has lead to socio ethnic tension and even communal violence.
This lead to Assam agitation which was primarily lead by student organization such as All Assam Union and the agitation lasted between 1979 and 1985.This movement in Assam also lead the foundation of insurgency in Assam and it lead to establishment of several insurgency outfit such as ULFA in 1979.Following this violent protest and insurgency the government of India finally began negotiating with protester and this resulted in signing of the Assam accord in 1985.Through the Assam accord government of India made a commitment to the protesters and as per the accord government committed to prevent illegal migrant from Bangladesh by erecting physical barrier.Under the Assam Accord the government also recognizes citizenship cutoff date and 24 march 1971 was selected as cutoff date in order to identify the genuine Indian Citizens in state of Assam and distinguish them from illegal foreigners.
So,this date also became the basis for updating the NRC(national registrar of citizen).Under the Assam accord the government promised to update the NRC which was last updated in 1951 in order to distinguish between genuine Indian citizen and illegal foreigners based on this citizenship cutoff date.So,as per the NRC exercise those who could prove that they have resided in Assam prior to this cutoff date,they would be provided with Indian citizenship and the others would be recognized as illegal migrants.The promised NRC exercise was not held for three decades and it was taken up by the government only after recent intervention of the Supreme Court.Last year the NRC exercise was completed and the final list was also published as per the direction of SC.Under the final list of NRC around 4 million people have been left out and they face the risk of being declared as illegal migrants.
Under the Assam accord clause 6,under which government committed to provide for constitutional,legislative and administrative safe guard,also supported by provision of reservation for native Assamese with regards to seat in State assembly,local bodies as well as regard to government jobs.In order to implement these commitment under clause 6 of Assam accord the government of India was supposed to setup expert committee but the implementation of clause 6 was delayed by several decades and final trigger came up with enactment of CAA.
See,the opposition of native Assamese was against all illegal foreigners from Bangladesh and East Pakistan.There opposition was not on religious line ,they were equally opposed to Hindu migrant as well as Muslim illegal migrant.But,the citizenship amendment act of India created a distinction between these illegal migrant and hence the CAA has triggered massive protest in Assam last year because its provision go against the commitment made in Assam Accord.So,in order to pacify these protesters the ministry of home affairs decided to set up a committee headed by a retired judge Biplab Kumar Sharmaand as per the given term of reference the committee submitted the confidential report to the government but it has been nearly six months after committee submitted the report but unfortunately government is yet to act on it.So,as a result few members were frustrated by governments inaction and they have decided to make public their recommendation which were part of confidential report.
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