Rajbongshis express their viewpoints to Group of Ministers

GUWAHATI: The second-day meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted by the Chief Minister to recommend measures for granting ST (Scheduled Tribe) status to six ethnic communities was held at the Assam Administrative Staff College at Khanapara here on Friday.

In the meeting, the KRNC (Koch-Rajbongshi National Convention) expressed their views regarding the grant of ST status to their community, in front of the GoM.

In this regard, KRNC general secretary Biswajit Roy said the body had a positive discussion with the GoM in the meeting.

Roy said the KRNC submitted written suggestions to the GoM and demanded that their issues should be solved based on a report submitted by the parliamentary selection committee in 1997 formed under the leadership of then MP Amar Roy Pradhan.

"The rights of the existing STs should not be hampered after the six ethnic communities are granted ST status. The political, social, educational, economic and land rights of the Koch Rajbongshis should be secured," Roy added.

Further, the KRNC demanded that without the amendment of article 330 and article 332, the six communities should be included under the reserved seats for the STs in the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly. It added that according to the BTR agreement, out of the 60 constituencies, 15 should be reserved for Koch Rajbonshis.

The six communities include the Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Mottock and the tea tribe.