BJP poll manifesto to have provision for Clause 6 implementation: Himanta

GUWAHATI: Assam’s senior cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said the BJP manifesto for the ensuing assembly elections will comprise provisions for implementation of the Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

“The BJP manifesto for the ensuing assembly elections will comprise a clause whereby transfer of land to a certain section of people will not be allowed under certain circumstances,” said Sarma replying to a question from a journalist.

He, however, refrained from giving further details, except stating that the manifesto was being prepared and he along with BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and other senior leaders had discussions till 4 am last night.

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Interacting with a gathering after the release of his book, Eta Xopunor Pom Khedi, a compilation of his speeches at the state assembly and other public meetings, Sarma said the clause that guarantees constitutional safeguard to the Assamese people was being partially implemented by the state government, but the recommendations of the high level committee constituted by Union home ministry could not be entertained.

“If you ask me when is the Clause 6 going to be implemented, I would say immediately. But, if you ask about the recommendations of the experts committee, then I have my reservations because the recommendations are far from the legal realities of the country. The Supreme Court has said certain recommended things cannot be done,” the senior BJP leader said.

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“For instance, there are some recommendations for 100 per cent reservations. There is a standing Supreme Court ruling that there cannot be more than 50 per cent reservation. Then how can we implement those?

“So, when the Supreme Court has said those recommendations cannot be implemented, how can we do it? Either Supreme Court will have to be convinced, or we will have to take advice of legal luminaries. The experts’ committee itself knew that its recommendations cannot be implemented by the government and so, they suggested us to take further legal advice. I believe, those were not their recommendations, but their expectations,” said Sarma.

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He cited the introduction of instructions in local languages in tribal areas as partial implementation of the clause. “When we have started instructions in all tribal languages in their respective areas, that is part of the recommendations of the Clause 6 … We are implementing Clause 6, but in our own way, without offending the Constitution of India or the Supreme Court of India,” he said.

The committee, headed by retired judge Biplab Kumar Sarma and comprising legal luminaries such as Nilay Dutta, had submitted its report to the state government on February 25 last year. Although it was forwarded to the Union home ministry, it never happened over the past year.