Khilonjia Forum Demands Clause 6 Implementation in Barak, Warns of “Fire and Shutdown”

Since the Biplab Sharma Committee recommendations were made public by the Assam Government and the year 1971 was declared cut of date for Indian Citizenship in Assam by the apex court, arguments about the Khilonjia rights have been on the rise. The three districts of Barak Valley, have been largely excluded from recommendations of the Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee and implementation of clause 6 of the Assam Accord. A newly emerged group “Barak Valley Khilonjia Forum” is now demanding the implementation of “Clause 6” of the Assam Accord in Barak Valley as well. In a memorandum submitted to the District Commissioner of Cachar today (October 22), the forum set a deadline of 15 days for the government to respond to their demands and implement Clause 6 in Barak Valley for the rights of the indigenous people.

A member of the Rongmei Naga tribe claimed that the community has been residing in Barak Valley for the past 300 years and they deserve the protection of the indigenous people under Clause 6. Before we go any further, Clause 6 of the Assam Accord aims to protect and preserve the cultural, social, and linguistic identity of the Assamese people. It says that the government should take steps to provide constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards for the Assamese to ensure their identity isn’t overshadowed by the presence of outsiders, especially due to illegal migration.

In simpler terms, it is about ensuring that the unique culture, language, and traditions of Assam are preserved and protected, even as other people might move to the region.

Forum’s President Jishnu Sinha mentioned that Barak Valley would “burn” in a fire if Clause 6 is not implemented. He said, “It feels like Assam is treating the indigenous people of Barak like step-children. Are we the third child of a goat? We will shut the entire valley if we don’t get the rights fulfilled”.

A spokesperson of the forum Namadin Romgmei on Tuesday said, “We want the peaceful implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord in Barak Valley. We are the indigenous people of this valley and we want this to be implemented. Barak Valley is not separate from Assam and when the Assam Movement was ongoing Barak Valley too suffered and at that time Barak was a part of Assam so it should be implemented here. If we don’t get any positive response from the government, all the indigenous people of Barak will take part in a large protest and movement”.

Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma in a recent press brief after the declaration of Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee recommendations has said Barak Valley will stay out of the implementation of the recommendations. When asked how this forum responds to the CM, they said, “In 1985 when the Assam Accord was signed, Barak Valley was not kept out of the accord. If everything in Barak happens in the name of the Assam Government then Barak can’t be discriminated from this, this will injustice for us”.