The Assam College Teachers Association (ACTA) on Monday said they had accepted education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement on college teachers on Sunday as “constructive suggestion”.

While referring to college teachers joining anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest, Sarma had asked whether the college teachers had held any academic seminar or discussions on the Act or whether they would be able to deliver lectures on its clauses and on the Act amendments.

Sarma made the comment a day after he was made education minister and the state government issued instruction asking the teachers to refrain from making political statements on social media.

“We do not think that he had said anything objectionable. There is a need for academic discussion on the issue. Without an intellectual debate, people will not be able to understand the pros and cons of the issue. He said there is a need for discussion. This is a constructive suggestion. I do not think he had criticised us,” said ACTA president Biswajit Bhuyan.

He said they had organised a seminar on CAA on January 11 here. “Probably the minister was not aware of the event,” he said.

Bhuyan, however, said the ACTA was opposed to the Act and would continue its opposition.