Guwahati: Massive groups of protesters occupied Dispur area of Guwahati on Thursday in protest of the Center’s decision to ignore several Assamese people while giving Scheduled Tribes (ST) recognition to communities in five other states.
Protesters from various parts of Assam converged in Dispur with the intention of gheraoing the state secretariat, calling for the awarding of ST status to communities.
Police have been deployed in significant numbers in the meanwhile to keep the throng under control and prevent them from upsetting city life.
The Janagosti Oikya Mancha delegates, who represent six different tribes in the state and are responsible for organising the large-scale protests, have been forbidden from entering Dispur, according to police orders.
A conglomeration of All Moran Students Union, Assam Matak Yuva Chatra Sanmilan, All Tai Ahom Students Union, Chutia Yuva Sanmilan, All Assam Tea Tribe Students Union and All Koch Rajbongshi Students Union had on September 19 called the protests.
According to reports, they were supposed to discuss the subject with the chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma but they have since cancelled the meetings in order to plan the protests.
One of the BJP’s promises made before the 2016 Assembly elections was to award ST status to the Adivasi, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, and Tai-Ahom people. Together, these communities make up more than 30% of Assam’s electorate.
The inclusion of diverse communities in the ST lists of five states—Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh—were approved by the central government on Wednesday earlier this month.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was welcomed warmly by the states concerned.