Slogans rend Dispur air

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 17: As many as six organizations staged sit-in strike at Dispur Last Gate on the first day of the Budget Session of the Assam Assembly that began today. Slogans rent the air at Dispur Last Gate in support of various demands.

The organizations that staged sit-in demonstrations today are People’s Democratic Movement for Boroland (PDMB), th Jogi Jajati O Swayitya Shasito Daabi Samiti, Assam (NJJOSSDSM), All Rabha tiol Council (ARNC), Rabha Development Council Demand Committee (RDCDC), Ahom Xe (AX) and the Krishak-Sramik Unyan Parishad, Assam (KSUPA).

PDMB president Jebra Ram Mushahary said that they had been demanding for the creation of a separate State of Boroland by expediting peace process with the ceasefire group of the NDFB. “We want the creation of Boroland State under Article 2, 3 and 4 of the Constitution of India and bringing peace in the region by granting justice to Boro and other indigenous people in their all spheres of life,” he said.

The organization submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajth Singh through the Government of Assam.

The ARNC and the RDCDC were raising the same demand – creation of a Rabha Development Council for Rabhas living in the BTAD and outside the Rabha-Hasong Autonomous Council.  RDCDC chairman Balen Rabha and chief convener Prafulla Rabha said: “The Rabhas living in the BTAD and outside the Rabha-Hason Autonomous Council are very backward. They need protection and development. Taking that in view a separate development council should be formed for them. We also want the appointment of a person as a member of the Assam Public Service Commission and a member from the community in the event of formation of an Elder’s House in Assam. We also want the inclusion of the RHAC in the Sixth Schedule and the appointment of 1,000 Rabha Hasong language teachers.” th Jogi Jajati O Swayitya Shasito Daabi Samiti, Assam has been demanding a satellite autonomous council for their development. They claim that have a population of 43 lakh in the State. They have also been demanding their inclusion in the Sxth Schedule of the Constitution of India, besides raising annual allocation of funds to Rs 25 crore. They also raised the demand for the inclusion Kishore th, only th candidate who won the recent Assembly election in the State, in the State Cabinet.      

Ahom Xe has been demanding cancellation of the move to auction 12 oilfields of the State, measures to arrest the rising prices of essential commodities, formation of special task force for the preservation of the resources of the State and separate package for their exploitation.

The KSUPA wants that Raha should be selected as the site for the proposed AIIMS. It has also been opposing the proposed move to auction 12 oilfields of the State. Giving floods and erosion in the State as a tiol problem is another demand of the Parishad.