Assam: Conglomerate Of 6 Tribes Calls Off Proposed Bandh Till November

GUWAHATI: The Jangosti Oikya Mancha of Assam has conveyed their decision to call off its proposed bandh till November.

The union decided upon this, subsequent to a meeting with Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, along with other cabinet ministers of the state on Friday.

Representatives of the Jangosti Oikya Mancha, however, stated that the protest demonstrations will be continued as informed earlier.

The union will repeat deliberations with the government again in the month of November.

Pijush Hazarika, the cabinet minister to the state of Assam, asserted after the conclusion of the meeting that the meeting came to an end on a positive note.

The cabinet minister said, ''0ur chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has given assurance to the representatives of the tribes to carry forward the procedure for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status within six months. Almost 40 percent work has been completed. Talks are yet to take place with the tribal sanghas."

The minister further informed that talks among the Janagosti Oikya Mancha, Tribal Sanghas and the government would happen in November.

It is to be noted that six communities of Assam have been raising demands for ST status. These communities comprises of the Adivasi, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran and Tai-Ahom. Prior to the 2016 Assembly elections, the BJP proposed that ST status would be granted to the mentioned communities, the demand for the same which is now being raised by them.

People of these communities together amounts to about 30 percent of Assam's electorate.

Prior to the meeting on Friday, representative members of the six communities also boycotted a meeting that the Assam Government summoned on September 21. The members demanded tripartite talks with the Centre, state governments and representatives of all the stakeholders.

The union of the six communities called for an Assam Bandh on September 26.

Also Read: ST status to six communities: GoM should submit report to Centre soon; demands Ahom body

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