Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said his government was “committed” to “safeguard sons of the soil” at any cost.

Addressing the gathering here during celebration of the 510th birth anniversary of Koch general Bir Chilarai, Sonowal highlighted distribution of land pattas to landless indigenous communities and the expedited process to grant Scheduled Tribe status to six communities of the state.

Sonowal, who reached the venue by a chopper two-and-a-half hours behind schedule, called the Koch Rajbongshi people to remain united following the ideals of Chilarai and progress by gaining knowledge.

The chief minister presented the Bir Chilarai 2019 award to Arjuna awardee Bhogeswar Baruah.

Minister Chandan Brahma said the granting of ST status to the six communities would be finalised soon. Minister Naba Kumar Doley spoke about the life of Chilarai.

Minister and local AGP legislator Phani Bhushan Choudhury called the people to remain united otherwise they would fail to attract the government’s attention in solving their burning issues.

Adivasi groups handed over a memorandum to the chief minister demanding ST status to the community, before he left the venue.

Earlier, Choudhury unveiled a bronze statue of Chilarai at Rakhaldubi here.

Cultural troupes presented folk dance and songs.

Directorate of cultural affairs, Assam, had organised the celebration with the help of the local administration and Koch Rajbongshi groups.

The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad organised a daylong programme for students at Chilarai Park in lower Assam’s Dhubri town. Another programme was organised at Agomoni in Dhubri district, which was attended by Cooch Behar MP Nisith Pramanik.