Tribal bodies of Assam announce agitation over ST Bill

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of ‘The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2019’ from the Rajya Sabha aimed at granting Scheduled Tribe status to six communities of Assam. The organization has further announced a series of agitations in support of its demand. This was announced at its ‘Citizens Convention’ held at Lakhiram Barua Sadan here on Thursday.

Instead of granting ST status to six OBC (Other Backward Castes) communities, the CCTOA has demanded that they be provided appropriate and adequate governmental support within their own reservation quota. “Only the immediate withdrawal of the Bill will safeguard the constitutional rights of the Scheduled Tribes of Assam in particular and India in general,” said Aditya Khakhlari, the chief coordinator of organization.

The CCTOA has called for tripartite talks with the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Assam before the next Parliament session over the issue.

They further demanded the immediate withdrawal of the recommendations made by Assam and BTC government for granting ST status to the six communities.

To carry on its stir against the ST (Amendment) Bill, the organization will hold ‘dharna’ in every district on January 28; and in Delhi on January 30. From February 1, it will hold torchlight processions with the mission ‘BJP Hatao’ in every tribal village. On February 6, it will organize a mass rally at Sonapur.

Also read: Tribal organizations under Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations, Assam burn copies of Constitution ST (Amendment) Bill