Congress slams Gohain's remark over ST status

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 20:  The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has expressed strong reaction over Union Minister Rajen Gohain’s remark on granting scheduled tribe status to six communities of the State.

Union Minister of State for Railways, Rajen Gohian on Wednesday in Jorhat had appealed to the six communities to reconsider their demands.

The six communities demanding ST status are Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Moran, Motok, Chutia and Adivasi.

APCC spokesperson Ritupur Konwar in a statement on Thursday said that Gohain’s comment has exposed the real face of BJP over granting ST status to six communities.

“It has clearly reveled that BJP government is not at all serious with the ST status demand of the six communities,” he said.

The APCC in the statement said that Gohain’s comment is an insult to the six communities.

“It has also now been clear that BJP’s assurance of granting ST status to six communities before the poll was nothing but just to get votes,” Konwar said.

Granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to six communities in the state was BJP’s 2014 Lok Sabha election promise.

A committee set up by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to recommend the modalities for granting ST status to six communities - Koch Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Tai Ahom, Chutia and adivasi (tea tribes) - has postponed the submission of its report twice since its formation.