Summary:
The All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKSRU), which has also been demanding ST status for the Koch Rajbongshi community of Assam for long, also extended support to the AJM strike.“Without harming the interests of other existing ST communities, the Adivasis want ST status in Assam. We are the original tribes of India and have all the features similar to the tribes which are currently enjoying the ST status in the state, including the Bodos. Chief convener of CCTOA, Aditya Khakhlari, said they will not support any move that can lead to encroachment of ST quota of the existing tribes. The government should grant ST status to us without any further delay,” said Prem Hasda, working president of AJM.He added that the Adivasis never want to encroach into the ST quota of the existing tribes enjoying the tag.In the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019, inclusion of the names of the six communities — Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Matak, Moran and Tea Tribes — has figured for granting ST status. Guwahati: Life was completely paralyzed in western Assam on Friday owing to a 12-hour Assam bandh called by the Adivasi Jatiya Mahasabha (AJM), seeking urgent measures from the Centre and the state government to pass the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that proposes to grant Scheduled Tribe ( ST ) status to six communities of the state.Commercial establishments, educational institutions and offices remained closed in several parts of the state during the bandh hours and vehicles were off the roads..