GUWAHATI, July 14: Leader of the Opposition, Wajed Ali Choudhury raised the crucial issue of granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities under Rule 301 of the Assam Legislative Assembly on Tuesday
Choudhury urged both the state and central governments to take immediate and effective steps to fulfil the long-pending demand.
Speaking in the House, the Congress leader said that the tea tribes, Koch-Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Ahom and Chutia communities have been democratically agitating for Scheduled Tribe status for many years.
“Although assurances have been given to these communities on several occasions, the promises remain unfulfilled to this day,” he said.
Referring to the recent remarks made by Union minister Jual Oram, the Leader of the Opposition said that proposing the establishment of museums instead of granting ST status is an injustice to the aspirations and long-standing struggle of the six communities.
While acknowledging the importance of museums for preserving cultural heritage, he asserted that they can never serve as a substitute for constitutional recognition, reservation benefits or social justice.
He questioned the government on the current status of the process of granting ST status to the six communities, the stand of the central government on the issue, the nature of discussions between the state and Centre, implementation of the recommendations of the Biplab Sharma Committee, and when the promises made to the communities would finally be honoured.
In his address, Choudhury emphasised that the issue was intrinsically linked to the identity, dignity and constitutional rights of lakhs of indigenous people of Assam. Therefore, he said, the long-pending demand for ST status must be fulfilled through concrete action rather than mere announcements and assurances.
However, dissatisfied with the government’s response on the issue, Congress MLAs staged a walkout from the Assembly in protest.
Choudhury however expressed hope that the state government would soon engage in meaningful discussions with the central government to expedite the process of granting ST status and play a responsible role in ensuring the legitimate constitutional rights of the six communities.
