The year 1985 witnessed a significant development in year long movement launched by the All Assam Students’ Union and Assam Gana Sangram Parishad on the foreign national issue in the State, a historic accord was signed, in the early hours of 15 August, 1985.
The main focus of the Assam Accord was the question of foreign nationals in the State. Some of the specific clauses relating to the illegal immigrants problem are enumerated here briefly.
Clause 5.2: All persons who came to Assam prior to 1.1.1966, including those whose names appeared on the electoral rolls used in 1967 elections, shall be regularised.
Clause 5.3: Foreigners who came to Assam after 1.1.1966 (inclusive) and up to 24 March, 1971 shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners’ Act, 1946 and the Foreigners’ (Tribunals) Order, 1969.
Clause 5.4 Names of foreigners so detected will be deleted from the electoral rolls in force. Such persons will be required to register themselves before the Registration Officers of the respective districts in accordance with the provisions of the Registration of Foreigners’ Act, 1939 and the Registration of Foreigners’ Rules, 1939.
Clause 5.5: For this purpose, Government of India will undertake suitable strengthening of the Governmental machinery.
Clause 5.6: On the expiry of a period of ten years following the date of detection, the names of all such persons which have been deleted from the electoral rolls shall be restored.
Clause 5.7: All persons who have been expelled earlier but have since re-entered illegally into Assam shall be expelled.
Clause 5.8: Foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 24, 1971 shall continue to be detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law. Immediate and practical steps shall be taken to expect such foreigners.
The Assam Accord provides specific guidelines to safeguard the socio-cultural identity of the indigenous people and to enhance the standard of human life in the State. The relevant main clauses are 6 & 7.
Clause 6: Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.
Clause 7: The Government take this opportunity to renew their commitment for the speedy all round economic development of Assam so as to improve the standard of living of the people. Special emphasis will be placed on education and science and technology, through establishment of national institutions.
The Accord also incorporates several clauses relating to restoration of normalcy in the State after the period of the movement was over, to help alleviate the sufferings of the people. The important clauses include provision to review sympathetically and withdraw cases of disciplinary action of both State and Central Government employees and ensure that there is no victimisation. The State and Central Government also agreed to frame schemes for ex-gratia payment to next of kin of those who were killed during the course of the movement. Relaxation of upper age limit for candidates to public service appointments have also been initiated by the State and Central Governments.