Assam Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass terms ST status protests 'politically motivated’, calls for proper review of GoM report

Assam Cabinet Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass on Monday, December 1, alleged that the protests erupting across the state over the recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities appear to be driven by political motives and misinformation.

Unrest has been reported from multiple locations after the Group of Ministers’ (GoM) report proposing ST status for the Tai-Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Koch-Rajbongshi and Tea Tribes (Adivasis) was tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly. Some tribal organisations have raised concerns over the perceived implications of the proposal.

Addressing reporters after a cheque distribution event under the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Programme in the Srijangram constituency, Dass asserted that the agitation stems from a lack of understanding of the report’s details.

“These protests are happening without a proper study of the GoM report. The government has taken a respectful and positive approach toward the demand of the six communities, even if equal status cannot be provided immediately,” Dass stated.

He urged individuals or groups with objections to follow the formal mechanism for submitting grievances instead of resorting to disruptive demonstrations.

On the issue of escalating egg prices in the state, Dass said Assam must increase domestic production to reduce reliance on imports. He highlighted the state’s progress in the fisheries sector as a model for agricultural self-reliance.

“Just like we have achieved self-sufficiency in fish production, we aim to make Assam self-reliant in egg production. Within the next three years, we are hopeful of exporting eggs to Andhra Pradesh,” he added.

The state government continues to maintain that the proposed ST status expansion will not compromise the rights and entitlements of existing tribal communities, even as political debate and public sentiment over the issue intensify.