New Delhi:
On Friday, just before completing one year since its 2014 verdict, the Modi government restarted peace talks in Assam and discussed a proposal that could completely change the state's politics.
A delegation led by Arabinda Rajkhowa, the former chairman of the United Liberation Front of Assam or ULFA, met the Union Home Minister and the Home Secretary for a fresh round of tripartite talks between ULFA, the Centre and the Assam government.
In the meeting, presided by Home Secretary Anil Goel, former militant leaders talked about according tribal status to indigenous communities like tea garden workers and the politically influential Ahoms among others.
Six communities, former ULFA leaders argue, needed to be accorded the status of "scheduled tribes" category. If the proposals find acceptance, nearly half the population of the state would get tribal status. And further, more than 90 of the 126 assembly seats would be tribal dominated.
Elections in the state are next year. So both the Congress and the BJP are backing the move. "Our government at the state had passed a resolution in the state assembly supporting the demand of ST status to the tribes of Assam," Congress Lok Sabha member Gaurav Gogoi told NDTV.
President of the BJP in the state, Siddharth Nath Bhattacharjya too supported the move: "Our party is in support of the move."
So why are these proposals so important and finds supports across party lines? A senior leader of the tea garden workers has this explanation. "Many believe the move could a big step forward in dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants. If majority of the seats are reserved, then the clout of these immigrants in determining election results would go down," said the leader. He argued that if half the state's population becomes tribal, then there would be changes to property laws. "Like in other North-eastern states, non tribals and outsiders cannot buy property, here too such laws can be proposed. That would mean migrants would have limited rights," said the tea garden community leader.
But the latest proposal is sure to face its share of opposition and resistance. While non-tribals are apprehensive, existing tribes would resist the inclusion of any new group that cuts into their benefits.