new Delhi: About 1.44 lakh illegal foreigners have been identified in Assam till January 31 this year on the basis of the 1985 Assam Accord, and the authorities have deported nearly 30,000 of them, the state government informed the assembly on Wednesday.
The definitions of ‘Asomiya Janagan’ (Assamese people), Khilonjia’ (indigenous) and Adi Basinada (native), as mentioned in the agreement, are yet to be determined, it said.
Assam Accord Implementation Minister Atul Bora, in response to a question by AGP MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita, said that 1,44,077 illegal foreigners have been identified in the state till January 31, 2022 on the basis of the Assam Accord.
The minister said 30,014 of them have been deported to their country of origin.
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According to the Assam Accord signed on 15 August 1985, all foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 and residing illegally, would be traced and steps would be taken to deport them.
On the progress of fencing the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam, the Minister said that 98.35 per cent work has been completed.
He said that due to issues raised by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) the fencing work at a distance of 4.35 km in Karimganj sector has not been completed and discussions are on to resolve the matter.
Assam shares a 263-km border with Bangladesh.
Bora also said that the state government, after consultation with the Centre, is in the process of forming a panel of legal experts to deal with the constitutional and legal aspects, to implement the recommendations of a high-level committee constituted by the ministry. may arise for. Ministry of Home Affairs for implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.
But due to the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been some delay in the formation of the committee, he said.
The committee headed by Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma, a former judge of the Gauhati High Court, was mandated to suggest measures for effective implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.
In accordance with Clause 6, constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
The committee was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2019 on the request of the Chief Minister of Assam and submitted its report to the Chief Minister on February 25, 2020.
Replying to another question by Congress MLA Kamalakhya De Purkayastha, Bora said a sub-committee has been constituted to take forward the implementation of Clause 6.
Replying to another question by BJP MLA Terash Gowalla, Bora said that some of the total 15 clauses of the Assam Accord have already been implemented.