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Guwahati, March 21: With the upcoming State Assembly elections on the horizon, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has urged political parties to clarify their positions on crucial issues affecting the State, particularly regarding the identity of indigenous communities.

AASU president Utpal Sarma emphasized in a conversation that the pursuit of identity and developmental aspirations are paramount for indigenous populations. He insisted that political entities must articulate their stances on these matters prior to the elections.

Sarma highlighted the necessity for parties to present a clear strategy for safeguarding the identity of indigenous people while establishing both short-term and long-term developmental objectives.

He called for transparency regarding the implementation of all provisions of the Assam Accord within a defined timeline. Additionally, parties should specify how they plan to ensure constitutional protections for indigenous communities as outlined in Clause 6 of the Accord and through the recommendations of the Justice Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee report.

Another pressing issue is the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants from Assam, which necessitates the creation of an accurate National Register of Citizens (NRC). Political parties must clarify their approach to achieving an error-free NRC.

Furthermore, the stance on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, needs to be addressed. Sarma pointed out that while the Sixth Schedule areas and states with an Inner Line Permit system are exempt from the CAA, he believes the entire Northeast region should also be excluded from its provisions.

On the economic front, Sarma stressed the importance of rapid economic development to enhance the quality of life for residents. He criticized a beneficiary-based economy as unsustainable and urged political parties to foster industry-academia partnerships to create job opportunities for the youth in Assam.

He noted that at the time of India’s independence, Assam's per capita income was 4% above the national average, but it has since fallen below it. There is a pressing need to elevate Assam's per capita income to surpass the national average once again.

Additionally, the AASU president advocated for environmentally sustainable development and called on political parties to clarify their positions on this critical issue.

Sarma also urged parties to outline their strategies for addressing flood and erosion challenges.