Koch Rajbongshis Demand Reservation of Lok Sabha, Assembly Seats

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Koch Rajbonghsi National Convention (KRNC) quizzed about who can be termed indigenous people of the State and demanded a cut-off year to determine the same. The Convention met with the high-level committee of clause VI of the Assam Accord and submitted a memorandum with certain recommendations and remarks.

Speaking to The Sentinel, KRNC general secretary Biswajeet Rai said, “The Koch Rajbongshi community has been deprived politically, socially, economically and culturally since pre-independence of India. As such, to secure the future, the need for constitutional safeguard has risen.”

Demanding ST status for the Koch Rajbongshi community, KRNC demanded separate reservation in three parliamentary constituencies of Barpeta, Dhubri and Mangaldoi, and 26 Assembly constituencies of Gologanj, Gauripur, East Bilasipara, Gosaigaon, Bongaigaon, Bijni, North Abhyapuri, Jaleshwar, East Goalpara, Polashbari, Sarbhog, Chenga, Bhabanipur, Patacharkuchi, Tamulpur, Barpeta, Rangia, Kamalpur, Sipajhar, Jalukbari, Dispur, Kolaigaon, Majbat, Borsola, Dhekiajuli and Rangapara.

“We want the missing Koch Rajbongshi names missing in the NRC to be included without any condition. Also, a museum should be constructed to store the historical artifacts of the Koch Rajbongshi community. Further, the land policy of the State should be amended so that foreign infiltrators are restricted from buying land in the State. There are no representatives of ethnic communities in Legislative Assembly of Assam which needs to be changed,” said Rai.

“Who are the indigenous people of Assam? How do you determine that? What can be done is to settle on a cut-off date so that the confusion is cleared once and for all. We also want that the Koch Rajbongshi language is included in the XIII schedule so that it can be taught from the primary to the university level,” said the KRNC general secretary.

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