Dibrugarh: The All Assam Muttock Yuba Chatra Parishad (AAMYCP) staged a sit-in protest near Chowkidingee field in Dibrugarh on Saturday, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for their community.
Holding placards and banners, the members protested for two hours, raising slogans against the BJP-led central government for the delay in granting ST status to the Muttock community. They also slammed the Union Tribal Affairs Minister for remaining silent on the issue.
The Muttock community, along with five other ethnic groups, including the Tai Ahoms, Moran, Koch Rajbongshis, Sooteas, and Tea Tribes, has been waiting for the fulfillment of the BJP’s promise made during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and subsequent elections.
The promise of granting ST status to these communities had garnered significant support for the BJP at the time.
“ST status is a long-standing demand of our community. For several decades, we have been raising our voice and organizing various protest programs, but despite assurances from the central government, nothing has moved in the right direction,” said Ujjal Baruah, general secretary of AAMYCP.
He added, “We have been betrayed by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. We warned the government that if ST status is not granted to our community before the 2026 state elections, we will show them the consequences. During every election, they offer us false promises, but after the elections, nothing happens.”
The delay in implementation has led to growing frustration and discontent among the six communities, currently classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The AAMYCP leaders submitted a memorandum to Dibrugarh District Commissioner Bikram Kairi, addressed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, seeking ST status.