Guwahati, Oct. 14: The Confederation of Indigenous Communities of Assam today demanded the state government to discuss their demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status by November or face a series of agitation from December.

The confederation was formed on September 18 with representatives of six communities - Kalita, Nath Yugi, Kumar, Sut, Saloi and Mukhik. The organisation said it was open to like-minded indigenous communities.

Kirti Nath, general secretary of the confederation, told reporters here today that if the Centre changes modalities to grant ST status to only Tai Ahom, Sutia, tea tribes, Koch Rajbongshi, Muttock and Moran communities, they will oppose the move. "We want changes which make us ST too," he said.

This raises the number of communities demanding ST status to 12.

"We do not object if other communities are granted ST status. But we should get it too. We have already submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh on our demand," he said.

According to Nath, the population of Sut community in the state is 25 lakh, Kumar 18 lakh, Mukhik seven lakh, Saloi three to five lakh, Kalita 70 lakh and Nath Yugi 43 lakh.

Arabinda Chandra Kalita, president of the confederation, said despite living in the state for over 5,000 years, they were facing an uncertain future because of the creation of Sixth Schedule and autonomous council areas.

He said the ST status can help them overcome their problems.

"The situation is such that we are losing rights on our own land. In Sixth Schedule areas, the non-ST indigenous communities cannot buy land," he said.

Kalita said the six communities under the confederation had played a crucial role in the formation of Assam and had always been in the forefront at any crucial time. "Despite this, our voices are not being heard by the government," he said. "Yesterday, the Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. None of us were invited to the crucial meeting," Kalita said.

The bill seeks to grant citizenship to minority communities from Bangladesh who entered Assam on or before December 31, 2014.

Those opposed to the bill feel it is a violation of the Assam Accord, which states that Assam will not accept any person who entered the state after March 24, 1971.

Kalita said the confederation would oppose any effort to settle foreigners in Assam who entered after March 24, 1971.