The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) on Sunday said why the Centre and the state government did not implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord before bringing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

AAMSU adviser Azizur Rahman here said at a news conference that the government did not have any intention to implement Clause 6 and it was just a conspiracy to bring the citizenship bill.

“We support giving political and constitutional safeguards to Assamese people, but implementing Clause 6 does not mean that you have to bring lakhs of foreigners at the same time. Isn’t it double standard? The government is giving consolation to Assamese people in the name of Clause 6,” Rahman said.

Clause 6 envisages constitutional, legislative and administrative measures to safeguard, protect, preserve and promote cultural, social and linguistic identities and heritage of the Assamese people.

Rahman said to divert the ongoing protests the government is raising the Clause 6 issue. “If they are really concerned about implementing Clause 6, why didn’t they implement it before bringing the amended citizenship act?” he asked.

AAMSU president Rejaul Karim Sarkar said all the arrested protesters, including peasants’ leader Akhil Gogoi, should be released immediately. The students’ union demanded a judicial inquiry into deaths of five persons in the ongoing protests against the act in Assam.

The committee, constituted by the Union home ministry, has already started taking feedback from stakeholders. It has to submit a report by January.

Sarkar said they would never accept the “anti-constitutional”, and “communal” citizenship act which violates the 1985 Assam Accord.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal put up a brave front despite protests against him and his government and has invoked Clause 6 of the Assam Accord while urging people not to worry about the recent happenings.

“We are committed to protect all genuine Indian citizens and the rights of the people of Assam. I call upon all sections of society to thwart the elements who are misleading the people on #CAA & indulging in violence and together continue the growth journey of Assam,” Sonowal tweeted on Sunday.

Bandh: The Chutia Yuva Sanmilan Assam and the Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad on Sunday declared an Assam bandh on Monday against the CAA.

Leader of the Chutia Yuva Sanmilan Assam, Nripen Khanikar, said: “The Centre has failed to provide ST status to the six communities.”

It cannot implement inner-line permit (ILP) and cannot deport a single foreigner. Now the BJP government is bringing the CAA to win elections with the foreigners’ votes. We will organise an indefinite economic blockade if the CAA is not scrapped.”