Kokrajhar, Aug. 25: The All-Assam Tribal People’s Right Protection Forum has opposed the recommendation of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to include the Koch-Rajbongshi community of the state in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.

In a communiqué issued today, the forum said the recommendation to include the Koch-Rajbongshis in the ST list was made in great haste and without proper examination of the consequences.

“If this recommendation is passed in Parliament it would mean nothing less than burial of its own benign policy of uplifting the down-trodden tribals of Assam. The recommendation is not based on facts and does not also fulfil the five criteria required for inclusion in the ST list,” the forum said.

The five criteria are indication of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical coverage, shyness of contact with the community and backwardness.

President of the forum K.K. Basumatary said the hopes of the tribals would be dashed if the recommendation of the commission was implemented.

Basumatary urged the commission to review the hasty decision to confirm with the Centre’s policy of protecting the genuine downtrodden tribal people of Assam.

The forum also submitted a memorandum to Union minister for social justice and empowerment, Satya Narayan Jatiya, chairman of National Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Commission, deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and Union minister for tribal affairs Juel Oram opposing the move of the commission.

“The Koch-Rajbongshis are developed in all respects and their claim to ST status cannot be considered at any cost,” he said.

Basumatary said the original downtrodden Scheduled Tribe of the state would be outnumbered and deprived of government facilities if the Koch-Rajbongshis were given ST status.