Leader of the Opposition and Assam Congress chief Debabrata Saikia on Thursday welcomed the decision to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six indigenous communities of the state, but strongly criticised the BJP government for failing to take meaningful action over the past 12 years.
Speaking in Dispur, Saikia described the move as a positive step but alleged that it appeared to be nothing more than an “electoral bait” ahead of the upcoming state elections. He said that during the Congress government’s tenure, several efforts were made to move the process forward, whereas the current government has largely used the issue for political gain without delivering tangible results.
Meanwhile, Congress workers staged a strong protest at the Manabendra Sarma Complex in Dispur on Thursday, targeting what they claimed was a major land scam involving MP Dilip Saikia and Minister Ashok Singhal. Protesters, including APCC Mahila Congress president Meera Barthakur and several party workers, burned effigies of the two leaders to demand accountability. The demonstration, led by the Guwahati City District Congress Committee, attracted a large turnout of supporters, highlighting growing discontent with the state government over allegations of corruption. 
