"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 told reporters here.
The committee, headed by Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry Mahesh Kumar Singla, is consulting Assam government and all other stake-holders and examining various issues for suggesting the modalities for the required reservations and shifting the existing reservation for these communities from OBC to ST.
Rijiju had earlier said that granting of Scheduled Tribes status to the six communities -- Moran, Muttock, Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Sootea and Tea Tribes -- was a political promise of the BJP and the NDA government.
BJP-led alliance had assumed power in Assam after recent assembly elections in the state.
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The pro-talk faction of ULFA too had been seeking ST status to the six communities of Assam.
The grant of tribal status to these six communities will lead to 50 per cent population of Assam becoming tribal or Assam turning into a tribal-dominated state.
The fear of indigenous communities that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh would soon usurp political power would diminish if 50 per cent Assembly seats are reserved for ST when Assam becomes a tribal-dominated state.