JORABAT, Feb 6 - In protest against the Centre�s move to grant the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six ethnic communities of Assam, the Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA), in association with the Dimoria district committee of the All Assam Tribal Sangha, organised a massive protest rally at Sonapur this afternoon. The rally was supported by a number of tribal organisations, where about 30,000 people from all over Assam took part. The streets of Dimoria was filled with anti-government slogans demanding withdrawal of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
The leaders at the rally said the decision to grant ST status to advanced and populous communities will eliminate political rights of the genuine tribals of Assam.
The rally was followed by a special meeting to discuss the government move threadbare.
The chief coordinator of CCTOA, Aditya Khakhlari, addressing the gathering termed the move as �unconstitutional� as the newly enlisted communities do not fulfil the criteria for gaining the ST status.
�We also demand maximum government support to the six OBC communities within their own reservation provisions instead of granting them ST status,� he added.
Threatening to launch a vigorous protest, the leaders warned the government that their protest may result in an untoward situation in the State.
The committee also adopted a resolution to knock the doors of the High Court and also of the Supreme Court, if necessary, if the bill is passed. They also demanded a tripartite discussion at the earliest in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The event also witnessed the presence of Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu and central leaders of various tribal organisations.
