GUWAHATI, Aug 24 � The Janagosthiya Akya Mancha today warned of a vigorous movement starting from August 26, in support of its demand for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the six ethnic groups of the State. It has also warned of a tough situation for the ruling party and sitting MPs from the State if the six groups are not accorded ST status before the next Lok Sabha polls.
It needs mention here that the Union Tribal Affairs Minister, V Kishore Chandra Deo, on August 22, said in reply to a question from the Rajya Sabha member from the State, Santiuse Kujur that the six ethnic groups from the State do not meet the criteria for granting ST status to them.
The Koch-Rajbongshis, Tai Ahoms, Morans, Muttacks, Tea Tribe communities and the Chutiyas have been demanding ST status to their respective ethnic groups for quite a long time now. The Janagosthiya Akya Mancha is the joint platform of these groups formed to unitedly press for this common demand.
The Union Minister on Thursday said that the proposal for granting ST status to the communities should meet the five criteria of indication of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large and backwardness. But the above six ethnic groups from Assam have failed to meet the above criteria, the minister said.
Akya Mancha convener Pranjal Rajkonwar, who is also the president of the All Tai Ahom Students� Union (ATASU), told this newspaper that the Akya Mancha would resume its agitation on the issue vigorously from August 26.
The same Union Minister had told a delegation of the Akya Mancha on December 18, 2012 that the six groups were eligible to obtain the ST status.
The Registrar General of India (RGI) also told the Akya Mancha delegation on December 23, 2012 that everything depended on the political will of the Government, Rajkonwar claimed.
He argued that it is clear now that on political grounds, the demand of the six ethnic groups for ST status has been turned down.
The Prime Minister, who represents Assam in the Upper House of the Parliament, the Chief Minister of the State, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, who is a representative of the State in the Lower House of the Parliament, should take the political initiative to ensure ST status to these groups, he demanded.
Moreover, the MPs representing Assam should also play a proactive role in this connection, he said.
GUWAHATI, Aug 24 � The Janagosthiya Akya Mancha today warned of a vigorous movement starting from August 26, in support of its demand for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the six ethnic groups of the State. It has also warned of a tough situation for the ruling party and sitting MPs from the State if the six groups are not accorded ST status before the next Lok Sabha polls.
It needs mention here that the Union Tribal Affairs Minister, V Kishore Chandra Deo, on August 22, said in reply to a question from the Rajya Sabha member from the State, Santiuse Kujur that the six ethnic groups from the State do not meet the criteria for granting ST status to them.
The Koch-Rajbongshis, Tai Ahoms, Morans, Muttacks, Tea Tribe communities and the Chutiyas have been demanding ST status to their respective ethnic groups for quite a long time now. The Janagosthiya Akya Mancha is the joint platform of these groups formed to unitedly press for this common demand.
The Union Minister on Thursday said that the proposal for granting ST status to the communities should meet the five criteria of indication of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large and backwardness. But the above six ethnic groups from Assam have failed to meet the above criteria, the minister said.
Akya Mancha convener Pranjal Rajkonwar, who is also the president of the All Tai Ahom Students� Union (ATASU), told this newspaper that the Akya Mancha would resume its agitation on the issue vigorously from August 26.
The same Union Minister had told a delegation of the Akya Mancha on December 18, 2012 that the six groups were eligible to obtain the ST status.
The Registrar General of India (RGI) also told the Akya Mancha delegation on December 23, 2012 that everything depended on the political will of the Government, Rajkonwar claimed.
He argued that it is clear now that on political grounds, the demand of the six ethnic groups for ST status has been turned down.
The Prime Minister, who represents Assam in the Upper House of the Parliament, the Chief Minister of the State, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, who is a representative of the State in the Lower House of the Parliament, should take the political initiative to ensure ST status to these groups, he demanded.
Moreover, the MPs representing Assam should also play a proactive role in this connection, he said.
