The Assam government has announced its willingness to engage in direct dialogue with protesters opposing the Group of Ministers (GoM) report that recommends Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six communities. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated late Sunday that the cabinet has thoroughly reviewed the report and is convinced it will grant ST status to the six communities without infringing upon the existing rights of current Scheduled Tribes.

Following widespread protests that intensified since Saturday, the Chief Minister Sarma revealed that a ministerial team comprising Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Keshab Mahanta, and Pijush Hazarika will meet representatives of the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) to clarify the contents of the report. The Chief Minister further declared his personal readiness to participate in discussions with the CCTOA if necessary, emphasising the government’s intent to dispel any misconceptions surrounding the recommendations.

The controversial GoM report, tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly, proposes conferring ST status on the Tai-Ahom, Chutia, Moran, Motok, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Tea Tribe (Adivasi) communities. Existing tribal organisations have expressed strong reservations, fearing dilution of their constitutional safeguards and political representation.

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The principal opposition, the Indian National Congress, has sharply criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president and Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, accused Chief Minister Sarma of deliberately creating divisions among communities. Gogoi claimed the present report fails to guarantee protection for existing ST communities and alleged that the government is employing “divide and rule” tactics reminiscent of colonial-era policies.

With protests continuing across the state and political temperatures rising, the proposed talks between the government and tribal organisations will be closely watched as a potential turning point in one of Assam’s most sensitive socio-political issues.

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