Tinsukia district witnessed one of the largest mobilisations in recent years as nearly 20,000 members of the Moran community rallied on Wednesday evening, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Led by the All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU), the protest followed earlier demonstrations in Talap, Kakopathar, and Margherita, culminating in a massive procession in Tinsukia town ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Assam on September 13.
With heavy security deployed, the rally began from the Borguri Industrial Training Institute playground, drawing widespread participation from both men and women of the community.
Addressing the gathering, AMSU president Polindra Bora reminded the crowd of repeated unfulfilled promises and called for immediate intervention from the Centre and the state government.
“Prime Minister Modi assured that the Morans, along with five other communities, would be granted ST status within 100 days of the BJP forming the government. Ten years have passed, yet nothing has changed. This government has betrayed us. If our demands for ST status and Sixth Schedule autonomy are not met before the 2026 elections, we will escalate our agitation,” Bora said.
AMSU leaders also issued a stern warning: unless the government acts within 72 hours, a large-scale economic blockade will begin from September 15. AMSU general secretary Jaikanta Moran described ST status for the community as “non-negotiable,” emphasizing that successive governments—including Congress, AGP, and now BJP—have failed to honor promises, treating the Morans as political pawns.
The Moran community, one of Assam’s indigenous groups, has been seeking ST recognition for decades.
ST status would entitle them to constitutional safeguards, affirmative action in education and employment, and greater political representation under the Sixth Schedule provisions, which govern autonomous tribal regions in the Northeast. Advocates argue that despite their distinct cultural identity and historical presence in Assam, the Moran have been overlooked in previous policy decisions.
Following the march, a protest meeting was held at Tinsukia Police Station Chariali, where student leaders urged the community to remain united and vigilant in their fight for rights.
Political analysts note that the timing of the agitation—just days before the Prime Minister’s Assam visit—adds pressure on both the state and central governments to address long-standing demands.
With the 2026 elections approaching, the Moran ST issue is likely to gain renewed attention, potentially influencing regional political calculations.
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