Move should be backed by legal validity: CM

ST status to six communities

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 25: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that sooner the Centre grants ST status to six communities the better it is for the communities who have been pressing for their demand for long.

But at the same time, he said the Centre's decision should be backed by "legal validity".

In a statement here today, Gogoi said, "State Government has all along been endorsing the demands of the six communities and has been providing all justifications in support of inclusion of the six communities without affecting the rights and privileges of the tribal communities". He requested the Centre to concede to the demands of the six communities soon fulfilling all legal validity.

The six communities viz. Koch- Rajbongshis, Moran, Muttock, Sootea, Tai Ahom and the tea tribes communities are currently listed as other backward classes and are demanding to be included in the list of scheduled tribes as the new status would give them more benefits.