Assam Assembly Faces Tensions Over ST Status Demand for Six Communities
Tensions Rise in Assam Assembly Over ST Status
File image of a protest march taken out by Tai Ahom community in Margherita demanding ST status. (AT Image)
Guwahati, July 14: The Assam Legislative Assembly witnessed intense discussions regarding the long-standing demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities, leading to an Opposition walkout due to dissatisfaction with the government's response.
This issue took center stage during the seventh day of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly Budget Session, initiated by Leader of the Opposition Wajed Ali Choudhury during the Special Mention Hour under Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass.
Choudhury highlighted that the Adivasi Tea Tribe, Koch-Rajbongshi, Moran, Motok, Tai Ahom, and Chutia communities have been advocating for ST status for years through peaceful protests, memorandums, and demonstrations, yet they have not seen significant progress.
He stated, "These six communities have been repeatedly assured that the process for granting ST status would be finalized, allowing them to receive their constitutional rights. However, the reality on the ground tells a different story."
Choudhury sought clarification from the government regarding the current status of the proposal, the response from the Centre, and the timeline for implementing the recommendations from the Biplab Sharma Committee.
In response, Tribal Affairs (Plains) Minister Ranoj Pegu informed that the ministerial committee tasked with reviewing the issue had completed its work and submitted its findings.
Pegu explained, "The committee reviewed various suggestions and amendment proposals before presenting its report in the Assembly. No alterations were made to the core proposal concerning ST status, including recommendations related to ST (Plains), ST (Hills), and reservation issues under the newly proposed ST (Valley) category."
He added that the government had received requests from Moran and Motok organizations for corrections to their ethnographic descriptions, which were accepted based on records from the Assam Institute for Research on Tribals and Scheduled Castes.
Pegu noted that the revised proposal could not be sent to the Centre immediately due to the timing coinciding with the Assembly election process.
"The Chief Minister has now approved the amendments, and the revised proposal will be forwarded to the Centre following the proper procedures," he stated.
Choudhury referred to recent comments made by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, which he claimed had created uncertainty regarding the proposal's future.
In his defense, Pegu clarified that Oram had not dismissed the demand outright.
"The Union minister merely indicated that the likelihood of the Bill being introduced in the upcoming Lok Sabha session is low. The proposal itself has not been rejected," he explained.
Despite this clarification, the Opposition remained unconvinced, pressing the government for a timeline on when the proposal would be presented in Parliament.
As the Speaker moved on to the next agenda item, Opposition members stood up and exited the House in protest.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Choudhury accused both the state and central governments of lacking the political will to address the long-standing demand.
"The government shows no interest in granting ST status, especially since the Union Tribal Affairs Minister has indicated that the matter will not be addressed in the upcoming Lok Sabha session. We are dissatisfied with the state government's response, which is why we walked out," he stated.
Raijor Dal president and MLA Akhil Gogoi also criticized the BJP-led government, asserting that it has no intention of granting tribal status to the six communities.
"Today's Assembly proceedings have made it evident that the BJP-led government will not extend ST status to these six communities, nor to the Kalita and Nath-Yogi communities. We demand that the Centre fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise regarding tribal status immediately," Gogoi asserted.
While the government reiterated that the revised proposal would be sent to the Centre, the Opposition maintained that the response did not provide a clear timeline for the granting of ST status.