The Assam protests actually revolve around the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six indigenous communities, not stripping Christian tribals of ST status. These communities include Moran, Matak, Ahom, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, and Tea Tribes. Here's what's happening ¹ ² ³:

• - Demand for ST Status: The six communities have been protesting and demanding ST status, which would provide them with certain benefits like reservations and exemptions. They claim the BJP-led government has been misleading them on this issue.
• - Government Inaction: Despite promises made in 2014 and repeated in subsequent elections, the government hasn't taken concrete steps to grant ST status to these communities. The Assam government formed two ministerial groups in July 2024 and March 2025, but they haven't submitted their recommendations to the central government.
• - Protests and Demonstrations: Members of these communities have staged protests, burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and blocked National Highway 37. They're demanding immediate action on their ST status demand.
• - Opposition from Other Tribal Groups: Some tribal organizations, like the Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA), oppose granting ST status to these six communities, citing concerns about potential benefits being misdirected.
• - Congress Criticism: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has criticized the BJP government for misleading the public on ST status, saying they have no real commitment to the indigenous people of Assam.

The protests highlight the complex dynamics of tribal identity, politics, and government policies in Assam.