>From The Assam Tribune http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=nov3007/at01 ST status for Adivasis under review: CentreFrom Our Spl Correspondent NEW DELHI, Nov 29 – Unnerved by the violence on the streets of Guwahati, the Centre today said that it was willing to actively consider grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Adivasis. This was a climbdown from its earlier position when Home Minister Shivraj Patil had said that the Register General of India has recommended against granting them ST status. They based their recommendation on the Lokur Committee Report and Backward Classes Commission, which concluded that these communities tend to lose their ST status in new surroundings.The Home Minister’s clarification came at the end of a brief discussion on the situation in the Rajya Sabha here today after members after members blasted the State Government for its handling of the situation and demanded its dismissal.Earlier, the AGP and BJP joined hands with UNPA to stage a dharna in front of the Parliament House condemning the violence. The demonstrators, who were joined by Jaya Bachchan, demanded ST status for the six communities, judicial inquiry and punishment to the culprits. The demonstrators included Dr Arun Kumar Sarma, Sarbananda Sonowal, Kumar Deepak Das, Narayan Borkatoki, Rajen Gohain, Tapir Gam and Khiren Rijiju, among others.Later briefing newsmen, Jaya Bachchan described the incident involving the Adivasi girl as most unfortunate. She said because of the neglect by the ‘mainland’, the people of the region felt isolated.Later, in the Rajya Sabha Kumar Deepak opened the attack on the Government by castigating it for its failure to control the situation. He said the State Government should be dismissed, reiterating the demand for a CBI inquiry. He questioned why the State Government failed to take action against the culprits and the guilty policemen despite the clinching evidence against them.Dwijendranath Sarma tried to intervene and bail out the State Government by pointing out that a judicial inquiry has been already ordered into the incidents. Patil also chipped in by asserting that the culprits involved in the incident of disrobing the young girl has been detained by the police. Those who participated in the discussion included Sushila Treya, Jaya Bachchan, Motilal Sarkar and Chandan Mitra, among others. The Lok Sabha is scheduled to discuss the incident on Monday. “In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass” - Lakshmana _________________________________________________________________ Your smile counts. The more smiles you share, the more we donate. Join in. www.windowslive.com/smile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_oprsmilewlhmtagline _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
