Overview
- The gathering at Sonapur Mini Stadium was led by the Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organisation of Assam with participation from the Indigenous Tribal Sahitya Sabha of Assam and other groups.
- Demonstrators opposed ST recognition for Moran, Matak, Ahom, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi and Adivasi, arguing it would dilute language, culture and reserved opportunities of listed tribes.
- CCTOA chief coordinator Aditya Khakhlari spoke at the rally and framed the proposal as harmful to indigenous political and constitutional safeguards.
- Speakers invoked the 1996 temporary inclusion of Koch-Rajbongshi as evidence that new additions could capture reserved posts intended for existing tribes.
- The action came as the 2019 inclusion bill remains pending and, after a June signal from Minister Jual Oram, 26 organisations from 14 ST communities mobilised, with some alleging election-minded politics and noting ST-reserved Assembly seats rose from 16 to 19 after delimitation.