Assam: ASDC opposes granting of ST status to Hill-dwelling Bodos

Guwahati, January 9, 2019:

The Autonomous State Committee expressed strong disapproval of the announcement made by the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Bodos living in the hill districts of Assam in Lok Sabha on 8 January, 2019. The hill tribals have unequivocally opposed the move of the BJP government since the time the proposal was mooted. All hill organisations including the Autonomous Council has opposed this proposal.

In a statement, Holiram Terang, President Autonomous State Demand Committee stated that the Home Minister's announcement has shown the BJP's utter disdain towards the Hill Tribes and such humiliation shall not be tolerated by the fifteen Hill Tribes. If the BJP has any sense of decency and democratic propriety, then it can still refrain from bringing in the proposed constitutional amendment.

The ASDC also called upon all the hill tribals in the BJP to express strong resentment over the issue as not being able to stop the Union government from harming the very existence of the hill tribals would only make the hill BJP members unfit to be members of the hill society The ASDC also seriously noted the role of Birensing Engti Member of Parliament, representing the Autonomous districts. The inactivity and almost a negative role of the MP on the issue need to be condemned by everyone, the statement read.