The Opposition Congress in Assam on Sunday pushed for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities of the state to secure the future of the indigenous Assamese people.

Assam PCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah told The Telegraph that once the long-pending demand of the six communities — Adivasi/ tea tribes, Tai Ahom, Moran, Matak, Chutia and Koch-Rajbongshi — are met, the state will become a tribal state as the population of STs will exceed 50 per cent, ensuring political power is vested in the hands of the indigenous people with at least 80 seats reserved for tribal candidates in the 126-member Assembly.

Borah’s reaction comes in wake of the the seven-day deadline given by indigenous organisations on Saturday to the Miyas (Bengali-speaking Muslims hailing from Bangladesh) to leave Upper Assam in wake of the Thursday’s Dhing “gangrape case” where three Miya youths are the accused. The case triggered widespread protests in the state.

“People like us (Borahs and Sarmas) will lose politically but it will at least secure the future of the indigenous people of Assam and of Assam overall. That is what we should try to achieve, this is something which the ruling BJP has promised in election after election to win in Assam. About 10-15 seats will be open for general caste people like us but we Congress will support any move to grant ST status to the six communities immediately,” Borah said.

The Congress had pushed for ST status when in power in Assam and it was also in its poll manifesto.

After the delimitation of constituencies in 2023, 19 of the 126 Assembly seats and two of 14 Lok Sabha seats are reserved for STs. Similarly, nine seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes.

ST status to these groups will guarantee adequate political representation, reservation in educational institutes, government jobs, scholarships and government schemes, leading to their upward economic and political mobility.

The pro-ST brigade says that it will check political power going into the hands of outsiders, in particular illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Currently, existing STs make up over 12.4 per cent of the state’s 3.2 crore population.

Borah also hit out at chief minister Sarma for trying to divert attention since June 4, the day of the Lok Sabha election results, which saw the Opposition secure a health vote share and its popularity rising.

“People are now talking about corruption involving the CM’s family and availing loans to run the state. The BJP-led government is facing flak over multiple issues on all fronts. The defeat of the AIUDF and Badruddin Ajmal in the LS polls has left the CM and the BJP worried. They are now trying to create an Ajmal from within or outside Congress to continue its politics (of polarisation) of the last three years,” Borah said.

The chief minister is “sparing “no one, from university to journalists. “I will request our partymen, the Opposition leadership and people of the state not to fall in the trap laid by the CM and the BJP to come to power for the third time (in 2026) by fanning an atmosphere of animosity and distrust among the people,” Borah said.

The Congress had slammed Sarma for his “confession” about the rise in crime against women (23 cases) after the declaration of the Lok Sabha election results, seeking a white paper on such incidents and steps to curb them.

The Assam Congress has also hit out at the ruling BJP over the Dhing case.

“Nothing better was expected from @BJP4Assam than to communalize even rape & murder. To suppress voice of people you’ve started targeting journalists too. SHAMEFUL!! Stand of Congress has always been clear. Be it in Dhing, Lakhimpur, Hathras, Unnao, molestation of women wrestlers, rape & murder of doctor in Kolkata or garlanding of rapists & murderers of Bilkis Bano,” the state Congress said.

The Congress was reacting to the BJP post that said, “ So, is it true that @INCAssam is rolling out the red carpet, mobilizing every corner of its vast ecosystem and loyal supporters, to defend their “star” of the Dhing incident who finally faced the music today?”
The BJP post had flagged the personal opinions of a few journalists on the Dhing case.