Question

What was Assam Agreement ? Write in short.

Hint:

The most important detail of the Assam Accord is the cut-off date: March 24, 1971. This date is significant because it marks the eve of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to a massive refugee influx.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Assam Agreement (or Assam Accord) was a Memorandum of Settlement signed to address the issue of illegal immigration in Assam.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Assam Accord was signed on 15 August 1985 by the Government of India, the Government of Assam, and the leaders of the Assam Movement (led by the All Assam Students' Union - AASU). The movement had been agitating since 1979 against the influx of illegal migrants, mostly from Bangladesh, which they felt was threatening the culture, language, and resources of the indigenous Assamese people.
The main provision of the accord was to detect, delete (from electoral rolls), and deport illegal migrants. For this purpose, a cut-off date was set: all foreigners who had entered Assam on or after 25 March 1971 would be considered illegal migrants.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The Assam Agreement was a 1985 accord signed between the Indian government and leaders of the Assam Movement to resolve the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Its key clause was to detect and deport foreigners who entered the state after 24 March 1971.