Bills passed to set up autonomous councils for 3 Assam communities

GUWAHATI: The Assam assembly on Wednesday passed three separate bills for creation of as many autonomous councils for Moran, Motok and Kamtapur communities.
These proposals were mulled by the government at the height of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests early this year.
In the meanwhile, the opposition Congress in Assam has declared that it would withdraw all cases slapped against people for participating in anti-CAA protests within one week if the party is voted to power in the 2021 assembly polls.
Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes minister Chandan Brahma said this is a historic day as the assembly passed three bills enabling creation of the councils. Two factions representing Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union and eight other organisations representing the Koch RajBongshi community thanked the chief minister for the Kamtapur Autonomous Council.
Assam has three Sixth Schedule councils besides six other development councils.
Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said, “Constitutional status will be given to six development councils which will enable them to get central funding.”
On the other hand, Sonowal held separate meetings with different organisations representing various communities on Thursday and assured them that the government would take pragmatic steps for fulfilling their demands.