6 Assam communities seeking ST status meet Sonowal

Representatives of six ethnic communities demanding Scheduled Tribe status met Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal here today.
Sonowal told leaders of the communities that the central and state governments were committed to granting ST status to them.
"We are totally committed towards granting ST status to the six communities of the state. We are moving in the right direction," he said in a statement.
The leaders of the six ethnic communities apprised the chief minister about the outcome of the tripartite talks on the issue held at the North Block office of Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju yesterday.

Terming the outcome as positive, the leaders said the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere.
Granting of ST status to the six communities -- Moran, Muttock, Tai Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Sootea and Tea Tribes - is a poll promise of the BJP.
Rijiju said at the tripartite meeting between the representatives of the six communities, the central government and the Assam government that the Centre was committed to grant ST status to them.
"We are committed to grant ST status to six OBC communities in Assam. The Central Government has already set up a committee to examine the proposal and it is working on it," he said.