BJP government eroding autonomy of Sixth Schedule in Assam, says Gaurav Gogoi

GUWAHATI

Assam Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday (July 5, 2025) alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Assam was systematically eroding the autonomy of the tribal councils functioning under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

He held Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma primarily responsible for “undermining the spirit” of these autonomous councils, rather than upholding their constitutional mandate.

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Mr. Gogoi said the BJP-led government was “remotely controlling” the constitutional powers granted to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which spans five districts in western and north-central Assam; the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), covering two districts in central Assam; and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), which administers the Dima Hasao district.

“Power was decentralised to the BTC, KAAC, and NCHAC during the 15-year tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, as the Sixth Schedule was intended to ensure administrative and financial autonomy for these regions,” Mr. Gogoi told journalists in Diphu, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong district.

“The people of these regions should have the authority to make decisions regarding their development. Authority should not be confined to Delhi or Dispur (the State capital); it must extend to the councils,” he said.

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“However, under the current regime, all decision-making powers are centralised in the hands of the Chief Minister. The councils are being remote-controlled from Dispur, with the Chief Minister making unilateral decisions, keeping the council chiefs sidelined,” he added.

Mr. Gogoi further alleged that Mr. Sarma was acting like a “real estate broker” by allocating thousands of acres of land belonging to indigenous communities to corporate houses.