Guwahati, Dec 27: Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, on Friday accused the BJP-led state government of stalling the grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities, despite repeated assurances from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Speaking at a press conference, Saikia claimed the government has not taken concrete steps, including issuing the required notification, even though the matter had reached the Rajya Sabha without complications. He alleged that the BJP cited a Ministerial Group report during the recent Assembly session to create unnecessary delays, noting that the report was tabled but not discussed before the House was adjourned.
Saikia recalled that during the Budget Session, he had introduced a Private Member’s Bill urging the implementation of prior decisions on ST status. Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu had promised to present the report within a month, but it was released only eight months later, on the final day of the session.
The LoP also dismissed the Chief Minister’s recent statements that ST status would not be granted before elections due to opposition from certain organizations. Saikia pointed out that Sarma had claimed in 2019 that the issue was resolved. “From 2019 to now, seven years have passed with no progress—this is BJP’s deception,” he said, emphasizing that the demand traces back to historical Congress efforts from 1996.
Saikia cited constitutional provisions under Article 342 empowering Parliament to grant ST status and highlighted early proposals sent by Congress governments in 2005-2006, supported by surveys and parliamentary bills. He urged the government to name organizations allegedly opposing pre-election implementation and accused the BJP of using the matter as an electoral strategy, depriving the communities of education, jobs, and development benefits.
He further criticized unfulfilled promises, including a 2016 assurance by then Union Minister Jual Oram for action within six months of BJP’s Assam victory, and a 2014 all-party report submitted to central ministers.
