"First right to resources belongs to tribals": Assam CM questions previous government policies

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 15 took a sharp dig at the policies of the previous UPA government, particularly those arising from the Sachar Committee report, accusing the then-Congress leadership of prioritizing minority communities over indigenous populations in resource allocation.

Speaking at a public event, Sarma recalled that during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure, the Congress government had established the Sachar Committee — headed by a retired judge of the Delhi High Court — to assess the socio-economic status of minorities in India. “Following its report, the then-government declared that minorities would have the first claim over the country's resources,” Sarma said.

He alleged that this perspective led to the launch of a targeted development programme — the Pradhan Mantri Jan Kalyan Yojana — under which 10% of Union Budget allocations were directed toward minority-dominated villages. According to Sarma, this included setting up Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), large educational institutions, Anganwadi centres, and the provision of housing under the Indira Awas Yojana, especially in Assam.

Contrasting this with the current approach, Sarma said the BJP government reversed the narrative by focusing first on tribal and indigenous communities. “When we came to power, we asked — if there's only one rupee to spend, should it go to minorities or to indigenous people?” he stated, claiming even members of the minority community would agree that tribal populations, as the original inhabitants, should be prioritized.

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inclusive governance philosophy, he added, “Modi ji said — Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas — but also emphasized that the upliftment of tribal communities comes first.”