Assam Cabinet Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President Atul Bora reignited the political debate on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord on Saturday. Speaking at a party gathering in Guwahati, Bora strongly criticized the Congress for what he described as a historic betrayal of the Assamese people. He reaffirmed the AGP’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as the state moves closer to the 2026 Assembly polls.
Bora said Clause 6, which promises constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards for the Assamese people, has remained a core agenda for the AGP. He accused the Congress of repeatedly failing to implement it despite ruling Assam and the country for decades.
Bora Slams Congress Over Assam Accord
“Clause 6 was the soul of the Assam Accord. It was meant to protect the identity and heritage of Assamese people,” Bora said. “But the Congress treated it like a political tool and never fulfilled its promise. They betrayed the trust of the people.”
He claimed that the Congress used the Assam Accord only for electoral gains and failed to protect the state from demographic challenges posed by decades of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. According to Bora, this failure continues to fuel social tensions and threatens Assamese cultural identity.
The Assam Accord, signed in 1985 after a six-year-long agitation led by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), was a landmark moment in the state’s political history. Clause 6 has remained one of its most debated provisions, promising measures to safeguard Assamese people while addressing issues of migration.
AGP Reaffirms Commitment to BJP-Led NDA
Bora also reiterated AGP’s commitment to the BJP-led NDA. He credited the current government with taking concrete steps to address long-pending demands under Clause 6. “The NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has shown political will that the Congress lacked for decades,” he said.
He further stated that the alliance has been instrumental in bringing peace and stability to Assam, pointing to infrastructure development and welfare schemes targeting indigenous communities.
Clause 6 Committee and Future Prospects
The central government had constituted a high-level committee in 2019 to recommend measures for implementing Clause 6. Its report, submitted in 2020, suggested constitutional safeguards, legislative measures, and job reservations for Assamese people.
Bora expressed confidence that the recommendations would see progress under the current government. Thereafter, he appealed to voters to trust the AGP-BJP alliance to protect their cultural and linguistic heritage.
“The people of Assam have seen the difference between promises and delivery. Only the NDA can secure the future of our indigenous communities,” he said.
Political Rhetoric Heats Up Ahead of 2026 Polls
With the Assembly elections less than a year away, the debate over Clause 6 has become a rallying point for the AGP-BJP alliance. Moreover, political observers believe the issue resonates deeply with voters, especially in Upper Assam, which was the epicenter of the anti-foreigners movement in the 1980s.
The Congress, meanwhile, has accused the AGP and BJP of using Clause 6 for political mileage without bringing tangible results on the ground. Party leaders have demanded a white paper from the government on the progress made since 2014.
Call to Action for Voters
As Assam heads into a high-stakes election year, Bora’s sharp attack on the Congress and reaffirmation of the NDA alliance underline the AGP’s strategy. By reviving Clause 6, the party hopes to consolidate indigenous votes and project itself as the true guardian of Assamese identity.
The political heat is expected to rise in the coming months as both the ruling NDA. Also, the opposition Congress gear up for a fierce battle over Assam’s cultural and demographic future.