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SILCHAR: Jagat Prakash Nadda, the central president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today said that the BJP has given ST status to 6 prominent communities of Assam, while keeping the rights of the existing STs intact at the same time.
In reality, however, the communities are still continuing their agitation seeking ST status as they claim that the BJP is yet to fulfill it's pre-poll promise to grant special status to the communities. The six Assam communities that are ST status are Chutiya, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, Tai-Ahom and ‘Tea Tribe’, some of which are reserved as the Other Backward Classes (OBC). The ST status to the six non-tribal communities is a raging issue in Assam since the tribal communities do not see them as indigenous, especially the Koch-Rajbongshi and Tai-Ahom. Therefore, the process to grant ST status to the communities has run into a roadblock.
"If there is one party that has given priority to the culture, language, existence of the Assamese people, it is the BJP," Nadda said, adding, "The BJP has also always given precedence to the rights of the Assamese people." Somewhat ironically, Nadda's statement was made against the backdrop of widespread resentment over the Citizenship Amendment Act. In fact, the resentment over the 'CAA' has been so intense that it has given rise to 'alternative' political options such as the 'Asom Jayiya Parishad' and the 'Raijor Dal' -- both regional parties having the 'CAA' as their major poll plank.
Nadda also pointed to the signings of the third Bodo peace accord and smart fencing of border areas with Bangladesh as major accomplishments of his party.
Blowing the poll bugle in Barak, where the party has accrued the majority's support in view of its bringing of the contentious 'CAA', Nadda congratulated the state BJP unit for making the region a major BJP stronghold.
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Nadda further stated BJP would surely achieve its target of winning 100 plus seats in Assam in the upcoming Assembly election and form the government once again in the state in 2021.
In his 30-minute speech, the BJP central president also spoke about various schemes and projects launched by the Narendra Modi government including Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Saubhagya Scheme among others and enlightened on how the common people are getting benefits from the welfare schemes.
Pointing to the party's recent successes in polls, Nadda added that in spite of widespread protests against the party, it has been able to script decisive victories in Assam and elsewhere.
It needs mention here that Nadda is the second top-tier BJP leader to have arrived in poll-bound Assam within a fortnight. Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier arrived in the State to discuss a wide range of issues, including the forging of alliance ahead of polls. Shah, during his two-day visit, also met the departing Congress MLAs Ajanta Neog and Rajdeep Gowalla, who have since gone on to join the saffron brigade.
Earlier, Assam Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal turned down heavily on the Congress saying the previous Congress government never wanted the growth and development of Barak Valley due to which the valley remained underdeveloped for years. "The valley started witnessing progress only after the BJP came to power in Assam. The BJP government has treated both Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley with equal importance," Sonowal said.
Sonowal further added that the Barak Valley remained underdeveloped for several years during the Congress rule and claimed bulk of the funds allocated for the progress of the valley were embezzled when the Congress was in power.
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