KOKRAJHAR/GUWAHATI: The violent protests and vandalism that rocked the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Secretariat in Kokrajhar on Saturday have ushered in a tense political and administrative standoff across Assam. While the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders (Section 163, BNSS) and secured the complex, the core issue—the granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six new communities—has sparked a full-blown crisis.
Tribal Bodies Reject Three-Tier Solution
The most significant fallout is the immediate and unified rejection of the Assam Cabinet’s approved Group of Ministers (GoM) report by the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) and the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU).
The GoM proposed a three-tier classification—ST (Plains), ST (Hills), and a new ST (Valley)—to protect the existing groups while accommodating the six new communities. However, tribal leaders argue that this structure is inadequate:
- Dilution at National Level: Protesters point out that the GoM report itself concedes that for central government jobs and institutions, all groups will compete under a single national ST pool, leading to a loss of opportunities for the less numerous existing tribes.
- Threats of Escalation: Leaders have warned that if the state government fails to provide immediate and satisfactory assurances, they will launch a mass movement, including railway and national highway blockades across the state.
Administrative Clampdown and Political Overture
The government’s response has been two-pronged: law enforcement followed by an offer of dialogue.
- Security Lock-down: Following the breach of the Secretariat, security remains high in Kokrajhar. Prohibitory orders explicitly ban rallies and gatherings, and legal action is being pursued against those involved in the vandalism of the BTC Assembly Hall.
- Dialogue Offer: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the formation of a three-member ministerial committee to invite CCTOA representatives for direct talks. The CM stated that the move is necessary to explain the report and “alleviate any misunderstanding,” asserting that the new framework will not cause “a single per cent damage” to the existing ST communities.
Political Pressure on Bodo Leadership
The protest, specifically targeting the BTR administrative headquarters, has put significant pressure on the Bodo political leadership. Leaders are now challenged to reassert their commitment to safeguarding the interests of the existing tribal population while navigating the complex demands of the state government.
As the political temperature continues to rise, the crisis surrounding the GoM report transforms from a policy issue into a major constitutional and socio-political flashpoint, threatening to destabilize the hard-won peace in the BTR region ahead of key elections.
