Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary on Tuesday clarified his position on the proposed inclusion of six communities in Assam’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) list and said that any such move must not compromise the rights of existing tribal groups.
Speaking to reporters in Kokrajhar, Mohilary said he is not opposed to granting ST status to the Ahom, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, and Tai-Ahom communities. However, he stressed that constitutional safeguards for the current Scheduled Tribe population must remain intact. “The rights and privileges of the existing tribal communities should not be diluted in any manner,” Mohilary said, underlining the need to balance inclusion with protection.
Mohilary also responded to political statements from Upper Assam, which suggested the issue is of particular importance to that region. He noted that such concerns appear to be region-specific and do not necessarily reflect the situation in Lower Assam. Referring to comments by political leaders like Three Gogoi, he remarked, “I am not aware of the particular concerns in Upper Assam. The perspective here in Lower Assam is different.” 
Mohilary also welcomed the Assam Cabinet’s recent decision allowing Sixth Schedule areas—including BTC, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao to remain exempt from restrictions on multiple marriages. The decision enables residents in these autonomous regions to legally marry more than once, should they choose to do so.
