Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said the state government has formally submitted its suggestions to the Centre on the rules to be framed to implement the amended citizenship law so that the interest of the indigenous people remains protected.
Sonowal, who has been facing the ire of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act brigade apparently for not speaking out against the law or seeking safeguards, revealed Dispur’s move in his first media interaction on the New Year day since assuming charge in May 2016. Senior journalists sought exemption of Assam from the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Sonowal, for the first time, also said he has been keeping the Centre abreast of the developments in Assam and also about the sentiments of its people. The chief minister did not divulge the suggestions but said application for citizenship will be properly vetted and there will be a cut-off date. He refrained by dishing out the number of beneficiaries but said the new law will not affect Assam’s social fabric and that both the Centre and the state are committed to implementing Clause 6 of the 1985 Assam Accord which provides constitutional safeguards to the Assamese people.
The new citizenship law, which has triggered widespread protests in the country, is perceived by the anti-CAA brigade as a threat to the state’s culture, land, language as it will allow persecuted non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to apply for citizenship if they have entered India till December 31, 2014.
“On January 1, 2020, I am promising you that the interest of the indigenous people of Assam will forever remain protected. If there is any government committed to the protection of Assam and its people it is the BJP-led alliance government. Protection of jati (community) mati (land) bheti (mainstay) is the guiding principle of our government,” he said. Sonowal added, “Regarding CAA, it is a national law. We have sent our suggestions to the Centre so that the interest of the khilonjiya (indigenous people) is protected when the rules for the CAA are framed. Once you see the rules everything will become clear. There has been a lot of misinformation about the CAA which has resulted in the unrest.” The chief minister also took the opportunity to remind people about the achievements of his government with the “support” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I have clearly informed Modiji and Amit Shahji about the sentiments of the people over the CAA. I am also a son of the soil. There is no reason to distrust me. Please don’t isolate me. If you isolate me where will I go? It is because of you I am here (as chief minister). What is the use of being the chief minister if I can’t protect the interest of the people who have elected me! Whatever my government has done is in the interest of the state. Therefore, please trust me, Assam will not be affected,” an emotional Sonowal said.
However, the chief minister’s assertions have not yet cut ice with the protesters who vowed to continue with the agitation till the Act was scrapped.
Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad’s general secretary Palash Changmai said the people of Assam no longer trust the state government. “Even the state government’s peace and progress rally could not restore trust. Our faith is rested in the court, not on Sonowal anymore,” Sangmai said referring to the Supreme Court, which is hearing the petitions challenging CAA. The next hearing is on January 22.
Changmai added that Assam’s decision to elect Sonowal as the chief minister of Assam was a “historic blunder”. “The state government cannot dupe the people by showering a number of welfare schemes at a time when the natives are forced to hit the street for their land, resources and political rights.”
Sonowal in his media interaction asked how can helping the artistes, sportspersons and writers be wrong. “How can this be a bait? What is wrong in helping our own people?” he asked appealing to everyone, including the protestors, to join hands in building a developed Assam.