A massive wave of protest has swept across Assam as members of the Chutiya community renewed their long-standing demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. From Moran to Golaghat, Jorhat to Barak’s Sribhumi, thousands took to the streets on Saturday under the banner of the All Assam Chutiya Jati Sanmilan and allied organisations, calling for immediate tribal recognition.
Assam Statewide Protest
In Moran, a sea of protesters gathered at the Usha Puri playground before marching through the town, raising slogans such as “Give ST status to Chutiya community,” “No ST, No Rest,” “No ST, No Vote,” and “BJP Go Back.”
Demonstrators warned the government that if the Chutiya community not granted ST status before the 2026 Assembly elections, they would withdraw support from the BJP and rally behind regional parties instead.
Leaders Accuse Government of Betrayal
Leaders of Chutiya organisations accused the state and central governments of betraying Assam’s indigenous communities. They also condemned what they called the “discriminatory stance” of certain tribal bodies opposing their inclusion in the ST list.
“We have waited long enough. The government must act before it too late,” said one leader during the Moran rally.
Protest Spread Across Assam
Simultaneous demonstrations held in Jorhat, where thousands gathered at the West Jorhat Sports Ground, joined by representatives from Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Charaideo, and Nazira. The gathering marked one of the largest mobilisations by the community in recent years.
In Golaghat, hundreds more staged similar protests, demanding immediate recognition of the Chutiyas as a Scheduled Tribe, arguing that the community has long met all constitutional and ethnographic criteria but continues to face neglect.
Barak Valley Joins the Movement
For the first time, the agitation reached the Barak Valley, where a massive rally took place in Sribhumi. Protesters carrying placards and shouting slogans marched from Shambhu Sagar Park to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they submitted a 13-point memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through DC Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi.
The memorandum highlighted years of deprivation — including lack of political representation, educational reservations, and access to welfare schemes — due to the absence of ST status.
“Our people have been sidelined politically and socially for generations. This protest is not just about identity — it’s about justice,” said a local leader in Sribhumi.
Across Assam, the protest message was loud and unified — “No ST, No Vote.”