All Moran Students Union stir intensified along Assam border

OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: The economic blockade launched by the All Moran Students Union (AMSU) and other Moran organizations for the immediate fulfillment of their two- point charter of demands entered its second day in a rather intensified form paralyzing normal life across Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts and bordering Arunachal Pradesh four districts of Namsai, Changlang, Lohit and Lower Dibang Valley.

The agitation which started on Sunday in the form of economic blockade at various locations of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts and near Assam-Arunachal border check-gates in entirety have severely crippled the economic strata of the affected society. The artificial crisis in the market, shortage of essential good and commodities of daily use, oil depots running dry, act of economic offences like hoarding and black marketing have been reported from various Arunachal markets and Assam alike.

The various demands of the aggrieved Moran body include the Autonomous Council for the Moran community and immediate conferring of Schedule Tribe (ST) status. Demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and cancellation of privatization of oil fields across Assam, the agitators warned the BJP government at the Centre and the State as well of lifting arms for getting the demands fulfilled following the failures of the government to this effect. The All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU) and the AMSU-LRC (AMSU-Lekang Regional Committee) also conducted a motorcycle rally this morning from the Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner’s office in Assam to the Namsai Deputy Commissioner’s office in Arunachal to voice their demands.

The All Moran Students’ Union (AMSU) and the AMSU-Lekang Regional Committee (LRC) supporting each other’s cause have also been

demanding of the Arunachal Government the Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) for the long-residing non-APST people of Eastern Arunachal including Lekang in Namsai District and other locations of Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh.

However, Himanta Biswa Sarma the Minister for Finance, Health and Family Welfare, PWD, Transformation & Development (Assam) while addressing the media on Sunday evening at the 16th Adivasi Mahasabha at 2 No Mohong Pather in Bordumsa along Assam–Arunachal border termed the economic blockade of the AMSU as ‘an unscientific approach of seeking PRC’, adding “the blockade would be wind up itself.”

Meanwhile, speaking to the reporter, Manoj Kumar Moran the AMSU-LRC general secretary said, “The blockade would continue till the government of Arunachal responds to our cries”, adding: “If the government does not heed our demand, we will have to move ahead with a more vigorous movement,” “The genuine residents have been urging to refer the national village survey of 1968 in Lekang circle and act accordingly”, suggested Moran. On the other hand, Arunjyoti Moran the adviser of the Moran students body said, ‘Let our grievances be immediately addressed or else the agitation would assume its vigorous form in the subsequent hours.”

Also Read: All Moran Students Union launch indefinite economic blockade in Arunachal