Assam: CM Sarbananda Sonowal said that State government has been sincerely working to meet all the demands including granting ST status to six communities and the formation of Kamtapur Autonomous Council. He also said that the group of ministers formed would soon meet the leaders of the different organizations to send its final proposal to the Centre.
Meeting with the leaders of a few organizations belonging to Koch Rajbongshis at Assam Administrative Staff College, Chief Minister Sonowal said that both Centre and State governments are serious in meeting the demands of various ethnic communities with regards to their reservations and autonomy. Minister for the Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward classes Chandan Brahma who was also present in the meeting apprised the leaders of the organizations that the State government has been sincerely working to accord different privileges and benefits to the ethnic communities.
Talking in a cordial ambiance with the leaders, Sonowal thanked the leaders of the Koch Rajbongshi to continue their 53 years old democratic deliberations in a democratic way. He also made it clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central Government including the State government, has been working sincerely to solve various problems faced by different ethnic groups.
Informing the delegations, Sonowal said that though the Group of Ministers led by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma held several rounds of discussions with all stakeholders with regard to granting of ST status to six communities, because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic any further discussion could not be held. He, however, maintained that this discussion with the leaders of Koch Rajbongshi today would be very important in taking the demand to its final stage. Similarly, Sonowal also said that the formation of the Kamtapur Autonomous Council would get constitutional status very soon as his government would introduce a bill to the State Assembly.
Referring to other demands of the Koch Rajbongshi, Sonowal said that as an honor to the valiant heroes like Bir Chilarai and Lachit Borphukan, the State government is working resolutely to convert one thousand wooden bridges into RCC bridges. Stating that no government in the past took any pragmatic steps for solving the problems faced by the ethnic communities, Sonowal said that the present State government strengthening the democratic spirit has been talking to all the organizations represented by all sections of the people and submit its proposal to the Central Government for their redressal. He also maintained that the governments are taking time to avoid any discrepancies. He also said that the Group of Ministers would seat for a discussion with all the organizations so that the final call can be taken very soon regarding granting of ST status to six communities.
General Secretary Koch Rajbongshi Jatiya Mahasabha Biswajit Ray, working president Nirmal Ray, President Tarani Kanta Ray, General Secretary Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union Jibesh Ray, General Secretary, Koch Rajbongshi Sangram Parishad Dulal Chandra Ray, General Secretary, All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmillani Dharmendra Ray, President all Assam Koch Rajbongshi Mahila Samity, Chilarai Sena along with 12 other organizations were present in the meeting.
Food, Civil Supply, and Consumer Affairs Minister Phani Bhusan Chowdhury, Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami, his Legal Advisor Santanu Bharali, Commissioner and Secretary Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward classes Dr. M. Angamuthu and few other senior government officers were also present in the meeting.
