Assam: AJP blames BJP for Karbi Anglong unrest, demands arrests under SC/ST Act
Guwahati: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Friday expressed grave concern over the recent incident in West Karbi Anglong’s Kheroni, where slogans such as “Karbi Go Back” and “Karbi Chinese Go Back” were allegedly raised during a procession, calling it a disturbing sign of growing hostility against indigenous communities under the BJP-led government.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, AJP general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan described the incident as a direct outcome of what he termed a “BJP-backed political conspiracy” aimed at marginalising indigenous people.
He asserted that such incidents had never occurred in Assam before the BJP came to power and warned that the dignity, land, and identity of indigenous communities are now under unprecedented threat.
“Despite coming to power on the promise of protecting jati, mati, bheti, the BJP has presided over a period in which indigenous people have lost land, security, and even the right to live with dignity,” Bhuyan said.
He demanded the immediate arrest of those who raised inflammatory slogans in Kheroni under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Recalling the sacrifices of the Assam Movement, Bhuyan said 860 people laid down their lives to safeguard indigenous rights, leading to the Assam Accord. “The BJP sought votes promising to implement Clause 6 and protect Assamese identity. Nearly a decade later, those promises remain unfulfilled,” he added.
Referring to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent remarks on the growing presence of “outsiders” in the state, Bhuyan said this reality had been evident to the people of Assam for decades. “What the Chief Minister admits today is what led to the Assam Movement. Yet, under BJP rule, large-scale influx and demographic changes have accelerated,” he alleged, adding that this environment has emboldened outsiders to raise hostile slogans against indigenous communities.
Bhuyan squarely blamed the state government and the BJP leadership for what he termed an “anti-indigenous political project,” alleging that vote-bank politics and patronage have deepened insecurity among native communities.
Highlighting the situation in Karbi Anglong, Bhuyan accused the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council under Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang of widespread corruption and misuse of power, allegedly with the patronage of the state government.
He pointed to the allotment of more than 1.5 lakh bighas of land to corporate entities and warned that such policies have pushed the Karbi people into an existential crisis.
According to him, the Karbi population, which constituted around 84 per cent of the district in 1951, has now fallen below 50 per cent. The resulting fear and alienation, he said, triggered recent protests demanding the eviction of encroachments on government land. However, instead of addressing these concerns, the administration responded with repression, allowing tensions to spiral.
Bhuyan strongly condemned the use of slurs such as “Karbi Chinese Go Back,” calling them racist, dehumanising, and reflective of a dangerous mindset. “People from the Northeast are often stereotyped and insulted in mainland cities. Seeing the same abuse directed at Karbis in their own homeland is deeply alarming,” he said, adding that such acts represent a direct assault on indigenous dignity and constitutional rights.
He warned that the situation signals a broader pattern of “cultural aggression” and could have serious consequences if left unaddressed. “This is not just about Karbi Anglong. It is about the survival of Assam’s indigenous identity,” Bhuyan said.
Party secretary Chittaranjan Basumatary echoed the concerns, alleging that the BJP is pursuing a deliberate strategy to weaken indigenous communities while facilitating corporate expansion through land allocations.
He claimed that lakhs of bighas of indigenous land have been handed over to corporate houses, while workers from outside the state are being brought in, sidelining local communities.
Basumatary asserted that the BJP’s actions amount to a betrayal of constitutional safeguards meant to protect tribal rights. “Karbis are an inseparable part of the greater Assamese nation. Protecting indigenous identity is not just a Karbi issue—it is the responsibility of every Assamese,” he said.
The AJP warned that unless immediate corrective steps are taken, the social fabric of Assam could face irreparable damage and vowed to continue resisting what it termed an organised attempt to erase indigenous rights and identity.