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August 16, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Assam Accord
The six-year-old Assam problem was resolved with comprehensive but separate agreements calling for disenfranchisement of foreign nationals who entered the state between January 1, 1966 and March 24, 1971, and the resignation of the Saikia government. The announcement of the accord was made by the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, in his address to the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day.
In his maiden speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 38th anniversary of Independence, the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, announced that an accord had been reached on the Assam issue. He said that efforts were on to improve relations with all the neighbouring countries including China, Nepal and Sri Lanka. A full understanding with Pakistan was, however, possible only if it reconsidered its nuclear programme aimed at manufacturing a bomb, the Prime Minister said.
In Assam you do not get anything till you agitate.' This is how ousted AASU vice-president Nurul Hussain had reacted to the movement over the foreign nationals in the state. The agitation, which began in the latter half of 1979, saw its ups and downs. Men, women and children defied curfew by pouring out into the streets in 1980. The agitation leaders nearly stalled the February 1983 state election with the slogan, 'No solution, no election.'
Most of the leaders of the Opposition parties have expressed their reluctance to comment on the Assam agreement. The Janata Party leader in Parliament, Madhu Dandavate, and the BJP leader in Parliament, L K Advani, declined to comment. Contacted separately, both said they did not have any details of the agreement and would not like to comment till the details were known and studied.
