Guwahati, August 10, 2024 — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused the Congress party of delaying the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities in the state. Speaking to the media, Sarma attributed the delay to complications introduced by the previous government.
Sarma criticized the Congress for adding an unnecessary clause to the resolution that has hindered the progress of tribal status recognition. “Tribalisation was delayed not because of me but because of Congress. They passed a resolution requiring NOCs from existing tribals, which was unnecessary and caused the delay,” Sarma stated.
He further questioned the rationale behind the Congress’s legislative decisions, stating, “Why did they include the term ‘NOC’ without considering the impact on the existing tribal population? The Congress should answer why they included such a stipulation.”
The controversy comes in the wake of protests by the Tai Ahom community, which has been advocating for ST status and territorial autonomy. On March 5, the Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad Asom (TAYPA) organized a sit-in demanding recognition of Ahom land and ST status for their community. The protest highlighted the community’s plea for land allocation and the declaration of Upper Assam as an Ahom-dedicated area.
Read More: Arunachal Pradesh Police Crack Down on ILP Violations