The Assam Congress on Friday launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of failing to deliver on long-standing promises concerning the Assam Accord and the recurring waterlogging crisis in Guwahati. The party also questioned the propriety of Shah inaugurating the new wing of the Raj Bhavan during his visit to the state. Addressing the media, senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi said that the people of Assam have been repeatedly assured by Shah of progress on issues central to the state’s identity and development, but very little has been achieved on the ground. “Amit Shah had declared in Parliament during the Citizenship (Amendment) Act debate that the Assam Accord would be implemented in letter and spirit, and the Assamese identity would be protected. He had also assured that the recommendations of the Justice (Retd.) Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee on Clause 6 of the Accord would be implemented without alteration. Where is that promise now?” Bordoloi asked.
The Assam Accord, signed in 1985, remains a highly sensitive political matter as it addresses the detection and deportation of illegal migrants and safeguards the cultural and political rights of the indigenous people of Assam. Clause 6 of the Accord specifically calls for constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect Assamese identity. “The Home Minister has had five years, but not a single significant step has been taken. People are still waiting for clarity and action,” Bordoloi said. The Congress also raised concerns about Guwahati’s waterlogging problem, which continues to disrupt life in the state’s largest city. Referring to the heavy waterlogging witnessed over the past two days due to monsoon rains, Bordoloi alleged that Shah had failed to act on his earlier commitment to find a permanent solution. “Five years ago, Shah had promised that the artificial flooding of Guwahati would be solved. He even spoke about creating more water bodies and ponds to tackle the issue. But where is the outcome? Instead, the city drowns every year,” he remarked.
Bordoloi even questioned whether Shah had taken an alternative route to avoid flooded streets during his Guwahati visit on Thursday. “It shows the government’s failure to deal with an issue that has become a yearly nightmare for residents,” he said.