Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah reaffirmed the Assam government’s commitment to ongoing discussions regarding the Group of Ministers’ (GoM) report that recommends granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities. Speaking on December 1 during the Bodoland Territorial Council’s (BTC) Winter Session, he noted that dialogues with stakeholders have been continuous since 2019.
“If further discussions are required beyond the report, both the state government and the GoM are prepared to engage,” Mallabaruah stated following a high-level review meeting attended by fellow ministers, including Ajanta Neog, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, and representatives from central agencies. His comments come amid persistent protests in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), notably following a violent attack on the BTC Secretariat on November 29, just hours before the report’s presentation in the Assembly.
The minister emphasized Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s assertion that the report aims to provide justice for all communities. “All communities advocating for their rights will receive them without undermining existing tribal groups. We have identified a solution and are open to dialogues with organizations such as ABSU and CCTOA,” he said.
BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary criticized the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) for distancing themselves from the Secretariat vandalism. “If ABSU denies it, then they are indeed involved,” he remarked. Mohilary added that the review meeting also covered ongoing central projects, including infrastructure development at Rupsi Airport, land allotment challenges, and a shortage of departmental officers.
“We are progressing in a way that will not cause issues for the people of BTR,” he assured, announcing that a delegation plans to visit Dispur within the next 15 days to gather feedback from officials. Mallabaruah also highlighted upcoming infrastructure projects, pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate new rail connectivity between Kokrajhar and Gelephu in Bhutan in January.
The Urban Affairs Minister outlined discussions about various issues, including the modification of Rupsi Airport and land disputes related to Army firing ranges. He reiterated the Chief Minister’s vision for a transformed and developed BTC. Finance Minister Neog confirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing BTC’s administrative capabilities.
“According to the BTC Accord, we’ve allocated the financial aid and budget needed for the people of BTR. They now enjoy full economic freedom. Our recent review meeting indicates that BTC will soon take on a new shape,” she stated, promising swift resolutions to land acquisition and utility-related challenges.
In a related development, the All Assam Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union expressed concerns over what they labeled “divisive politics” that may split the Koch-Rajbongshi community. “Our apprehensions are reflected in the GoM report, which categorizes five communities-including the Koch-Rajbongshi-into ST (Plains), ST (Hills), and ST (Valley),” a union member stated during a press conference in Sivasagar. The union disapproved of this categorization and accused the Chief Minister of deliberately delaying the report, expressing displeasure with its presentation in the Assembly.
“There is no need for ST (Valley) status. Koch-Rajbongshis in Goalpara would receive a different category than those living elsewhere,” the member asserted.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/if-required-assam-govt-ready-for-more-talks-on-goms-st-report-mallabaruah-1599743
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Publish Date: 2025-12-01 19:11:00
