ATASU members stage protest against Centre's apathy

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, February 19: The All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) staged a sit–in strike in front of the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday in protest against the Central government’s divide and rule policy on the issue of granting ST status to six ethnic groups of the State.

The ATASU alleged that the BJP came to power at the Centre criticizing its UPA predecessor for not doing anything worthwhile for granting ST status to the Moran, Muttock, Tai Ahom, Koch–Rajbongshi, Chutia and Tea Tribe.

The NDA government is talking about granting ST status to some of the ethnic groups, depriving others, it said, adding, such a move will have a dent on the unity among the six ethnic groups that have so far been fighting in unison.  According to the ATASU, neither Dispur nor New Delhi has not done anything worthwhile to ensure ST status to the six ethnic groups despite the communities concerned having fulfilled the requisite criteria to be declared ST.

The organisation will also hold a 48–hour fast in Guwahati from March 2 and a sit–in strike at Jantar–Mantar in New Delhi on March 9 as parts of its protest programme.