AKRSU stages protest demanding ST status and separate State

GUWAHATI: The All Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union (AKRSU) staged a protest here on Friday opposing the State government for creating the Kamatapur Autonomous Council (KAC) without granting ST status to the community.

The AKRSU said the main demand of the body was formation of a separate Kamatapur State and ST status for the community.

"In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) during their election campaign promised that after coming to power they will grant ST status to the Koch Rajbongshis and five other ethnic communities within six months. However, the BJP-led Central government completed its first term and now it is in its second term. But, they have not yet granted ST status to the communities. Prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Centre tabled the proposed ST bill at the Lok Sabha but it was not passed in the Rajya Sabha," said AKRSU president Atul Barman.

He further stressed that under the presidentship of Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a committee of Ministers was formed regarding the grant of ST status to the six communities. However, the committee has not yet submitted any report to the Centre till date, said Barman.

Further, the AKRSU alleged that by trying to sideline the issue to grant ST status, on September 3 the government announced to form three autonomous councils for the Moran, Matak and Koch Rajbongshi communities. Thus, the KAC was formed for the Koch Rajbongshi community.

It alleged that the government has divided the community as the KAC only covers the Koch Rajbongshis from some parts of Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, and Bongaigaon. The aforementioned areas only include 30 per cent of the Koch Rajbongshi population, the AKRSU highlighted.

"How the development and progress of Koch Rajbongshis across the State is possible with the KAC?" the AKRSU questioned.

The body demanded a Satellite autonomous council to cover the entire Koch Rajbongshi community residing in the State.

"We never agitated demanding an autonomous council. Our main demand is granting of ST status and a separate Kamatapur State," the AKRSU reiterated.

Lastly, Barman highlighted the demands in a memorandum which they submitted to the Chief Minister through the local administration.

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