Guwahati: The Moran community has reignited its long-standing agitation for Scheduled Tribe (ST) recognition, enforcing an indefinite economic blockade from 5 a.m. today, September 15. The blockade, led by the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU) and supported by six national organizations of the community, has disrupted the movement of vital resources, including oil, coal, tea, and timber, from Tinsukia district.
This escalation comes just days after a massive demonstration in Tinsukia, where over 20,000 members of the Moran community staged a peaceful rally, demanding ST status and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The rally, organized by AMSU, began at the ITI field in Borguri and wound through Tinsukia town with participants carrying placards and chanting slogans.
According to reports, leaders, Palindra Borah and Joykanta Moran declared that the Morans, among Assam’s oldest indigenous communities, are determined to secure constitutional recognition and protection to safeguard their identity and resources. They warned against “political betrayal” and pressed for immediate government dialogue to address their demands.
The demand for ST recognition by the Moran community dates back decades, repeatedly resurfacing during election cycles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and successive governments—both BJP- and Congress-led—have pledged action since 2014, but no tangible progress has followed. Moran leaders accuse the present BJP-led government of failing to honour these commitments, echoing the unfulfilled assurances of earlier regimes.
In a stern warning, community leaders announced that if the government fails to resolve their demands before the 2026 Assembly elections, they will take a decisive stand against the ruling BJP.
The current economic blockade follows a series of agitations across Upper Assam, each marked by growing frustration. Protesters say that decades of neglect and broken promises have pushed them to intensify their agitation.
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