Congress Opposes ST(H) Status to Bodo-Kacharis in Assam's Hill Districts

Guwahati, February 11, 2020:

Opposing the granting of ST (H) status to the Bodo-Kacharis dwelling in the districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao districts, several Congress leaders have demanded Development of North Eastern Region Minister, Jitendra Singh, to revoke the contentious

In a joint statement undersigned by Karbi Anglong Congress President Khorsing Engti, Dima Hasao Congress President Nirmal Langthasa, among others, the leaders demanded the Government to revoke ST privileges to Bodos living in the three hill districts.

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"Bodo-Kacharis have always been Scheduled Tribe living in the plains and in this manner they were conferred the status of ST(P)", the statement read. "The Bodo-Kacharis in the three hill districts are a consequence of recent migration and for that reason they cannot be deemed ST(H) and granting them the same would unsettle the geopolitical environment of the already fragile hill districts of Assam[...]they already have an elected member to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council."

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Arguing that the Bodo-Kacharis are "far more advanced" than the indigenous tricals of the region such as the Karbis, Dimasas, Naha, Kuki, Hmar, Biate, Hrankhol, etc, the leaders said that conferring them ST (H) status to them to the other tribes.

Recalling that the earlier BJP regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee had not given ST(H) status to the Bodos after the hill districts' leaders had submitted a memorandum urging not to give ST(H) status to the Bodos during the signing of the BTC Accord in 2003.

The three district Congress committees have now urged the Central and State Governments to revoke the "contentious" Clause 6.1 of the Bodo Peace Accord. The Congress bodies have also urged the Government to implement Article 244(A) of the Indian Constitution.

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