Movement for scheduling of six communities likely to be intensified in Assam

The ongoing agitation for scheduling of six communities of Assam likely to be intensified in coming days as the representatives of eight different organizations representing the six ethnic communities vows to carry forward vigorous movement.

The ethnic bodies representatives vowed for vigorous movement after their tripartite talk on the issue of ' scheduling of six communities of Assam' failed on Friday. The meet under the aegis of MHA was held at New Delhi.

40 members of eight different ethnic bodies took part in the tripartite talk which was chaired by Kiren Rijiju , Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Expressing anguish over alleged apathetic attitude of MHA , adviser of All Assam Tai Ahom Students' Union ( AATASU) Aswini Chetia said that complete apathetic attitude over solving the 'scheduling of six communities' issue of Assam', was reflected on acts of both Rijiju and top bureaucrats of MHA in the meeting.

"They have invited us for the meeting. Rijiju had just entered the hall and attended the meeting only for a few minutes. He left the venue and officials followed him. Only message to us was that our issue would be solved. We were waiting for more but no body from the organisers side returned to the venue. We came out. If this is the attitude of a minister then how can we take them in faith? We have no other ways except to intensify our movement ", said Chetia.

The Koch Rajbonshi Sanmilani (KRS), representing the community,  alleged that Centre seems to have no interest to grant ST status to six communities of Assam.

"Today we have seen a complete apathetic attitude from MHA over our demands. This meeting was just a formality. Nothing concrete will happen to our cause with this attitude of the Centre. We have no option left except to intensify our movement", said the representative of KRS.

Rijiju often reiterated that Centre is committed to grant ST status to six Assam communities.

Granting of Scheduled Tribes status to the six communities – Moran, Muttock, Tai Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Chutia and Tea Tribes – was a political promise of the BJP. The grant of ST to these communities will lead to Assam turning into a tribal-dominated state.

The BJP-led alliance had assumed power in Assam last year. The pro-talks faction of ULFA too had been seeking ST status to the six communities of Assam. In both Lok Sabha and State Assembly election , BJP enjoyed good supports from these six communities as promise after promise were made in every political meeting held in the state from all top BJP ranks right from Prime Minister Modi to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.