Assam Congress Leader Criticizes BJP for Eroding Tribal Autonomy
Gaurav Gogoi's Strong Critique of the BJP Government
On July 5, in a pointed criticism of the ruling BJP, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of deliberately undermining the constitutional rights of tribal communities in the Sixth Schedule regions of the state.
During a press conference held in Karbi Anglong on Saturday, Gogoi asserted that the BJP-led administration is "dismantling the core principles of the Sixth Schedule," which was established to empower tribal groups through autonomous councils.
He emphasized, "The fundamental aim of the Sixth Schedule is to grant tribal communities genuine authority and independence to foster their development and shape their future. This authority should not be centralized in Delhi or Dispur, but should reside in localities such as Haflong, Diphu, and other council centers."
Gogoi pointed out that the Congress party has consistently upheld the tenets of decentralized governance. He reminisced about the era of the late Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who frequently engaged with local leaders and elders to enhance grassroots decision-making.
"Tarun Gogoi was a proponent of authentic power distribution. He valued the insights of senior figures like Biren Singh Engti from Karbi Anglong and representatives from Dima Hasao. He fostered local leadership, granted them autonomy, and trusted their judgment. This is why we established autonomous and development councils whenever communities expressed the need, such as for the Thengal Kachari and Rabha communities," Gogoi remarked.
However, he lamented that the current situation is starkly different. Gogoi claimed that councils in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Dima Hasao, and other Sixth Schedule areas have been rendered ineffective under Sarma's governance.
"At present, the authority that should belong to our councils is being manipulated by Himanta Biswa Sarma as if he were using a remote control. Decisions affecting BTR, Dima Hasao, or Karbi Anglong are no longer made by the councils but are dictated from Dispur," he alleged.
Gogoi also criticized the state government for what he described as arbitrary land allocations to councils.
"How can Himanta so casually transfer land that rightfully belongs to the councils and the people? Local leaders are compelled to submit because they cannot oppose this abuse of power. They are unable to serve their communities effectively because they have been rendered powerless," he stated.
"This issue transcends politics; it is about protecting the essential principle of self-governance that our Constitution guarantees to our tribal brothers and sisters," Gogoi concluded.
His comments come in anticipation of significant elections scheduled for September in the Bodoland Territorial Council.