By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, March 24: The All Assam Tai Ahom Students' Union (AATASU) today staged a two-hour sit-in demonstration at Dispur Last Gate in protest against, what it said, deception to them by the State Government and the Centre.
The AATASU leaders said: "Before every elections in the state, all political parties assure the Tai Ahom and five other ethnic groups of the state of providing ST status. After coming to power, they, however, forget their promises. We are not going to tolerate such deception by Dispur and New Delhi anymore. If they don't do enough to ensure ST status for the six ethnic communities well ahead of 2016 Assembly elections, the political parties be ready to face the music during the polls."
They also demanded Rs 100 crore to be allocated in the Annual Budget of the state every year for the preservation of heritage sites in the state and Rs 50 crore for the Tai Ahom Development Council every year. This apart, the AATASU leaders demanded inclusion of geography and history as compulsory subjects in the syllabi up to Class X.