Assam Accord: the Assam government recently informed the Assembly that on the basis of the Assam Accord inked in 1985, approximately 1.44 lakh illegal foreigners were found in the state till January 31, 2022, and around 30,000 of them were deported to their countries of origin.

Key points:

The government added that definitions of phrases mentioned in the Accord such as ‘Axomiya janagan’ (Assamese people), ‘khilonjia’ (indigenous) and ‘adi basinda’ (original inhabitants) were yet to be determined.

Who is a foreigner under the Assam Accord?

• The Assam Accord was signed in on August 15, 1985, by the Centre and the Assam government with the All Assam Student Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad.
• According to the Assam Accord, all foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971, and stayed illegally would be detected and steps would be taken to deport them.
• This movement had spearheaded the 1979-85 Assam Movement against migration from Bangladesh.
• The Accord set March 24, 1971, as a cut-off. Anyone who had come to Assam before midnight on that date would be an Indian citizen, while those who had come after would be dealt with as foreigners.
• The same cut-off was used in updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Why is it important to define ‘Assamese people’?

• Clause 6 of the Assam Accord promises “constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
• However, it doesn’t provide clear-cut definitions to identify who would be the “Assamese people”.
• Clause 6 is important because many felt the 1971 cut-off was inadequate to address the impact of migration.
• It is seen as a provision that would guarantee certain benefits to the Assamese people to compensate for the 1971 cut-off.

Why is the definition difficult?

• According to Dr. Kaustubh Deka, from the political science faculty at Dibrugarh University, ‘Axomiya’ or ‘Assamese’ is a contested term and there is no specific universal definition.
• Assam’s demography has been shaped by decades of migration.
• Many feel people whose ancestors were living in Assam before 1826, when Assam was merged with British India, are Axomiya while others feel ‘Axomiya’ include residents of Assam before 1951 when the first NRC was drawn up.
• While they might not be native speakers of an indigenous language, such as Assamese or Bodo, or Karbi, the question was whether the definition of “Assamese” could be used to exclude someone who has lived in Assam for 100 years.