BONGAIGAON, March 5 - The Hiteswar Barman faction of AKRSU on Thursday lauded the Union Home Ministry for taking fresh initiative to fulfil the ST status demand by the six communities of the State.
Addressing a news conference, Barman, who is the president of AKRSU, said they held a discussion on the subject with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on February 29. Following the discussion, the Ministry set up a six-member committee on March 1 to fix reservation quota against each of the six communities which are seeking tribal status, without changing the formal format of the existing tribal groups, Barman added.
Atul Ray, adviser of the students� body, made it clear that from the existing 27 percent reservation benefit enjoyed by the OBCs, a new quota would be formed so as to adjust these six communities, to be included newly in the tribal list. The committee is slated to finalise the reservation arrangement and submit its report to the Union Home Ministry by May 31, Ray added.
Ray called upon the groups of his community not to create confusion over the ST issue among the people so that no political party can take advantage in the ensuing Assembly polls.
The leaders of the students� group said they were hopeful that the Union Home Ministry would be able to solve the ST status issue by May 31, following which the AKRSU would chalk out its future course of action.
