Gogoi rejects Centre's charge

ST STATUS TO SIX COMMUNITIES

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Oct 3: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today rejected New Delhi's charge that Assam government has not yet responded to some queries regarding granting of ST status to six ethnic communities of the State, saying the State has already sent its opinion. "The Central government had sought views on the proposed tweaking of the modalities for granting ST status to communities. The State had submitted its views on August 10 last," Gogoi said, charging the Centre with misleading the people for political gains. Gogoi also accused the Centre of "playing for time" by embarking on such exercises to alter the modalities.

He said the State governments wants the six communities to get ST status and this has been made known to the Central government. “The State assembly has also passed a resolution supporting it,” he said, adding that at the same time, the government should ensure that the rights and interests of the existing ST communities are protected.

Two days back, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram had told a delegation of the communities from Assam that the State has not yet responded to some queries put forward by the Central government on the issue.