Guwahati, March 18: The All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) today rejected the definition of Assamese offered by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and 25 organisations representing different indigenous communities.

According to AAMSU, senior officials associated with updating the national register of citizens (NRC), 1951 said because of unfavourable terrain and adverse climatic conditions the 1951 NRC could not be updated in some hills and sar areas of Assam.

"So, if we go by AASU's definition, a large chunk of the population will be deprived of being recognised as Assamese," said Abdur Rahim Ahmed, president of AAMSU.

AASU and 25 organisations yesterday said all people whose names, irrespective of caste, community or religion, were included in the 1951 NRC are Assamese and eligible to enjoy safeguards as promised by clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

"Books like Red River and Blue Hills, written by Hem Baruah, say over four lakh indigenous minorities of Assam fled to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during a riot in 1950. By the time most of them returned to Assam, the process of updating the NRC was completed. Their names were not included in the 1951 NRC," said Ahmed.

"Indians who live in Assam and whose mother tongue is Assamese or any other languages of indigenous communities are Assamese," the AAMSU leader said. He alleged that AASU's definition of Assamese was "irrational and confusing" and "it was unfortunate for the people of Assam that AASU demanded the government to accept that definition."

The definition is required to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to Assamese people under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord that was signed on August 15, 1985.

"Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people," the Accord said.

The AAMSU leader threatened to launch a "movement" if Assam government accepts AASU's definition and said, "Through its one-sided definition AASU is trying to astray common people and divide Assam further. If the state government harasses indigenous minorities of the state by accepting AASU's definition, then its consequences will be very dangerous. We will resort to any kind of movement to stop it."

A delegation of AASU today met Assam Speaker Pranab Gogoi and informed him about the decision accepted by it and 25 organisations on the definition of Assamese.