Bill to provide special status to six Assam communities introduced but not discussed in RS

Guwahati, January 9, 2019:

With Assam witnessing shutdowns and massive protests against the Citizen (Amendment) Bill, 2016 passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Narendra Modi government tried to push through a major decision aimed at pleasing its population ahead of the general election in 2021.

The big news that came out on Tuesday amidst the agitation against passing of the Citizenship Bill, the government planned to grant the scheduled tribe status to six prominent communities in Assam.

The Bill was today introduced in the Rajya Sabha but just like the government’s never ending promises, this also was a fire that did not ignite for long. With the BJP government going all out to introduce the Bill, the house did not pay much heed to the plans and left it without any discussion or debate.

If the plan is implemented, it will benefit the Tai Ahom, Tea, Koch Raj Bongshi, Chutia, Moran and Matak tribes, and turn Assam into a tribal state.

The move is expected to help the BJP in the Lok Sabha election because the six communities dominate Upper Assam, which accounts for a majority of the state's 126 seats.

However, the people of Assam once again feel betrayed and deprived as the government has once again failed them with their promises that people of this nation have been eagerly waiting to become a reality since 2014.