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Minister Pijush Hazarika Urges AKRSU to Reconsider Bandh, Advocates Dialogue

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Pijush Hazarika, Assam’s Information and Public Relations Minister, calls on AKRSU to withdraw the January 21 bandh, highlighting the need for dialogue to resolve Koch Rajbongshi community concerns without hindering the state’s economic progress.

Guwahati: Assam’s Minister of Information and Public Relations, Pijush Hazarika, has appealed to the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) to reconsider its call for a 12-hour statewide bandh scheduled for January 21. He urged the group to opt for discussions over disruptions, emphasizing that the bandh could impede the state’s socio-economic advancements.Highlighting the importance of maintaining momentum as Assam prepares for the Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative to boost industrial growth, Hazarika warned that the protest could deter investor confidence. “At this crucial stage, halting progress with a bandh sends an adverse message to potential investors,” he noted.The minister reaffirmed the government’s willingness to address the demands of the Koch Rajbongshi community, including their long-pending request for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and issues concerning Kamatapur. He assured that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma would meet with AKRSU representatives upon returning from an international campaign for Advantage Assam 2.0 to discuss their concerns.“We respect democratic rights but encourage AKRSU to engage in constructive dialogue instead of resorting to protests,” Hazarika said, citing initiatives like reserving 13 medical seats for Koch Rajbongshi students and facilitating admissions to premier institutes, including IITs, as efforts to uplift the community.The bandh reflects frustration over the continued delay in granting ST status to six communities, including the Koch Rajbongshi, despite assurances since 2014. Although these groups reportedly meet all five criteria for ST classification, resistance from existing tribal communities has slowed the process at both state and central levels.On January 17, the Koch Rajbongshi Jatiya Parishad reiterated its support for AKRSU’s bandh, criticizing the perceived lack of action on their long-standing demands.

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