Koch-Rajbongshi National Convention Hopeful of New Government Resolving Their Issues

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Koch-Rajbongshi National Convention (KRNC) on Friday appealed to the State government to address the issues of the community.

Talking to The Sentinel, KRNC general Secretary Biswajit Ray said, "We are hopeful that the newly-formed government will take fast initiatives to address the problems of the Koch Rajbongshi community. In election manifestos and rallies of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 2016 Assembly polls, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) promised to grant ST status to the six ethnic groups of the State. Both the Central and the State governments completed their first terms but they didn't keep their promises." The KRNC said that their issues will be resolved as the State BJP has started its second term under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

"When Sarbananda Sonowal was the Chief Minister, a cabinet sub-committee led by then Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was formed to prepare the modalities to grant St status to the six communities. Now, as Sarma has become the CM, we hope that the six ethnic groups will get the ST status. The report of the cabinet sub-committee should be sent to the Central government and the Bill to grant St status should be tabled in the next Parliament session," Ray stressed.

Further, the KRNC alleged that the Kamatapur Autonomous Council (KAC), formed by the Assam government in February 2021 violates the Kamatapur Autonomous Council Act.

"Most of the members who have been included in the KAC are from outside the Council's area. In this regard, several persons have lodged petitions at the Gauhati High Court. We hope that the Council will be formed again," said Ray. The KRNC also demanded a triparty discussion to address the demand of the community to form a separate State for the Koch Rajbongshis.

Demands of Koch-Rajbongshi Community

Among other demands of the body include –

• Amendments in the land policy along with land reservation for indigenous people.
• Preservation of culture, language, historical monuments, and tradition of ethnic groups.
• Inclusion of Rabha, Tiwa, and Mising communities in the sixth schedule of the Constitution.
• Equal opportunities in jobs, education, politics etc. for the people residing in the BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region).

It is to be mentioned that the KRNC has welcomed the peaceful environment that has prevailed between the ULFA-I (United Liberation Front of Asom - Independent) and the government. It has stressed that peace talks should be held with the ULFA-I and also similar talks should be held with the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) to resolve their issues.

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