Massive Protest Erupts in Haflong Against Assam Govt’s ST Status Proposal
Haflong on Wednesday saw a massive protest led by the All Tribal Students’ Organisation of Dima Hasao (ATSO) against the Assam Cabinet’s recent approval of a Group of Ministers (GoM) report recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six additional communities.
The protest march, which began at Lal Field, moved through the Sambudhan statue point and Council Rotary before converging in front of the District Commissioner’s office. Hundreds of tribal students and community members joined the rally, carrying banners and chanting slogans to safeguard what they called their “constitutional and indigenous rights.”
Under the banner “Protect Indigenous Rights, Preserve the Integrity of ST Communities!”, the demonstrators accused the state government of attempting to dilute long-standing safeguards meant for existing ST groups in the region.
“The protection of our distinct identity and rights is non-negotiable,” said a student leader addressing the crowd. “Granting ST status to additional communities risks undermining the socio-political and cultural integrity of already recognized tribal groups. These safeguards exist to ensure justice and dignity for indigenous people, and we cannot allow them to be weakened.”
Protesters held placards reading “No Dilution of Our Constitutional Safeguards” and “Our Identity Is Our Right—Respect Indigenous Voices,” highlighting fears that political representation, resource allocation, and cultural preservation may be adversely affected if the proposal moves forward.
Leaders including Uttam Langthasa, President of ADSU District Committee; Mairing Johori, President of ADSU Central Committee; and Pramith Sengyung reiterated their firm opposition to granting ST status to the six communities—Moran, Motok, Chutia, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, and the tea tribes (Adivasi).
Following the protest, a memorandum outlining the concerns of the tribal communities was submitted to Durga Das Uikey, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, urging the central government to intervene and protect the constitutional rights of existing Scheduled Tribe groups.
The large-scale gathering has underscored the rising tension and regional unity among tribal communities in Dima Hasao, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over ST status in Assam.
