Guwahati, April 9 -- Ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections, a tribal organisation in Assam has called on indigenous communities to either boycott the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or withhold their support from it.

In a statement issued on April 6, the All Assam Sons of the Soil Indigenous Kochari Somaj accused the BJP-led State government of neglecting tribal interests and undermining indigenous rights. The organisation also alleged that the government's move to place six communities under a "protected class" could dilute the identity of existing tribal groups.

The six communities include Adivasi (tea tribes), Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran and Tai-Ahom. Existing tribal groups have been demanding assurances that their rights an...