International Desk : Following widespread protests in Bihar over employment rights, a new wave of civil unrest has erupted in India’s northeastern state of Assam, where tens of thousands have taken to the streets demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Moran community.

On Wednesday evening, approximately 20,000 members of the Moran community staged a massive protest march in Tinsukia district, paralyzing local traffic and drawing nationwide attention just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Assam on September 13.

Led by the All Moran Students Union (AMSU), the demonstration began with cultural programs and rallies in Talap, Kakopathar, and Margherita before converging in Tinsukia city. The procession, which started from the grounds of the Barguri Industrial Training Institute under heavy police deployment, saw participation from men, women, and students across generations.

AMSU President Polindra Bora addressed the crowd, accusing successive governments of broken promises. “Prime Minister Modi himself pledged, during the 2014 election campaign, that the Morans and five other communities would be granted ST status within 100 days of BJP coming to power,” Bora said. “It has been ten years. Ten years of silence. Ten years of betrayal. If our demands for ST status and autonomy under the Sixth Schedule are not met before the 2026 elections, we will launch an even larger, more sustained movement.”

The protesters issued a stark ultimatum: if the central and state governments fail to provide a clear, time-bound roadmap for fulfilling their demands within the next 72 hours, a comprehensive economic blockade will begin across Tinsukia and surrounding districts on September 15.

AMSU General Secretary Jayakant Moran condemned all major political parties for exploiting the community’s aspirations. “The Congress betrayed us. The AGP betrayed us. And now, the BJP is doing the same. We have been used as vote banks for decades — never as citizens with rights. Enough is enough.”

In a coordinated show of solidarity, a follow-up meeting was held at Chariali under Tinsukia Police Station, where student leaders urged the Moran community to remain united and escalate peaceful resistance until justice is delivered.

The demand for ST status stems from long-standing grievances over land rights, educational quotas, and political representation. Under India’s Constitution, ST status grants access to reserved government jobs, educational seats, and constitutional protections — benefits the Morans argue they have been systematically denied despite being recognized as indigenous to the region.

The protest comes amid heightened political sensitivity in Assam, where ethnic identity and tribal rights are deeply politicized. With the 2026 state assembly elections looming, the timing of the movement has raised alarms among officials and opposition parties alike.

As tensions mount, AMSU has formally demanded that Prime Minister Modi address the issue publicly during his upcoming visit, or risk facing unprecedented public mobilisation.