All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani Demands Bill on ST Status in Lok Sabha

Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Aug 12: The All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani held its extended Executive Committee meeting in Guwahati on Sunday in which the Sanmilani vehemently criticized the Centre for not introducing any Bill in the Parliament, an allegedly earlier promised, in respect of according ST status to the community. The organization has demanded that the same be done in the Winter Session of the Parliament.

The general secretary of the Sanmilani Himu Rajbongshi said, “The Bill was to be introduced in the Monsoon Session, but that has not been done. We demand that the Bill be introduced in the Winter Session.” The Sanmilani has also asked the State Government and the Centre to clarify their stand on the issue of granting ST status to the Koch Rajbongshi community.

In another resolution, the Sanmalini has alleged that the Koch Rajbongshi people facing immensely harassed during the NRC update process and that some persons of the community are being held up in the detention camp, The Sanmilani has demanded that these people be released immediately. The Sanmilani also demanded that the names of Koch Rajbongshi people that have not figured in the final draft NRC be included in the final document. It was also resolved to unify all the Koch Rajbongshi break away groups under one umbrella.

Meanwhile, in protest against the non-introduction of the Bill, the organization has decided to take to agitation programmes. Accordingly, on September 3 a sit-in protest will be organized in front of Raj Bhawan in Guwahati.