Assam Accord Signed, Ending Six-Year Agitation

NEW DELHI - In a momentous event on the nation's Independence Day, the Assam Accord was signed here today, bringing to a close a six-year agitation led by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP). The agreement, witnessed by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, aims to address the concerns of the Assam Movement regarding illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh.

The accord, a Memorandum of Settlement, stipulates that any person who entered Assam after March 24, 1971, will be classified as an illegal immigrant and subject to deportation. This landmark document promises to amend the Citizenship Act the following year, 1986, to reflect the accord's provisions.

The movement, initiated in 1979, demanded stringent measures to identify and deport illegal foreigners, fearing they were overwhelming the native population and threatening political rights, culture, language, and land rights. Over 855 lives were lost in the prolonged struggle, and the signing of the Assam Accord represents a significant step towards peace and stability in the region.