J P Nadda's 'lie' on ST status to Assam communities triggers protests; effigies burnt

DIBRUGARH: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national President J P Nadda has earned the wrath of 6 agitating communities of Assam after asserting that "only the BJP" could have granted them Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, as per their demand. Nadda's claim during a rally in Silchar triggered widespread chaos across Assam, as the granting of ST status to Assam communities - Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Matak, Moran, and Tea Tribes - is still a pending issue.

Protests broke out today in Upper Assam's Moran town today, where Nadda's effigies were burnt by members of the long-agitating communities, who have recently turned against the saffron brigade for its "inability" to fulfill the pre-poll promise.

"Nadda's claim of giving ST status is false and is probably meant to mislead the people. Can can they grant ST status before tabling the Bill in the Parliament?," said an activist of the All Assam Tai-Ahom Students' Union, adding, "The BJP has promised to grant ST status to Assam communities, but 4 years have elapsed since those promises were made. Therefore, we condemn the BJP leader for his irresponsible statement."

Another activist slammed Nadda for "fooling" the agitating communities with his "misleading" remark. "He not only fooled us, he also fooled the Chief Minister and Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma -- who were present during the speech. These people who come here from Delhi are the real Mughals."

A Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted by the Assam government for preparing modalities to grant ST status, was reportedly yet to submit its final findings.

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Currently categorized as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), these groups have long accused successive governments of betraying them and denying them greater benefits of reservation in education, employment, and legislature.

Although the BJP party has assured these communities of ST status, the party is yet to deliver on that promise despite repeated pleas and protests from the agitating communities.

The ST status to the six non-tribal communities is a raging issue in Assam since the tribal communities do not see them as indigenous, especially the Koch-Rajbongshi and Tai-Ahom who were the rulers of eastern and north-eastern India once. 

The Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organisations of Assam opposes the expansion of ST list on the lines that their inclusion will impact the tribes presently on the list.

Nadda, however, yesterday said that the non-tribals "have been granted ST status without affecting the existing rights of the other ST communities."

Nadda, addressing a mammoth gathering in Silchar yesterday, said that the party has given due recognition to Assam's culture, language, and identity, further asserting that "only the BJP can do that."

The BJP chief arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit and will hold meetings with members of the party's state unit core committee, election committee and other office bearers.

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