ATASU slams Khaklari for 'opposing' ST status to six communities

48-hour ONGC blockade called from June 16

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR, June 9: The statement made by Aditya Khaklari, secretary of All Assam Tribal Sangha regarding granting ST status to six other ethnic communities of Assam, has invited sharp reaction from the All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU). 

In a press release issued on Tuesday, ATASU chief adviser Aswini Chetia and president Litul Buragohain said, “At a time when the ATASU is relentlessly trying to get the ST status for the Ahom community, it has been noticed that political parties are playing political games with the six communities, including Ahoms. Neither the Assam Government nor the Central Government has done anything worthwhile for granting ST status to the six ethnic groups of the State.”

They accused the BJP-led NDA government of ‘shooting two with one arrow’ on the issue of granting ST status to six ethnic groups of Assam. “The Central Government on one hand is trying to show that it is willing to grant ST status to six ethnic groups including Ahoms, so that the party can gain benefits in 2016 elections, while on the other hand, the government is prompting organizations like Tribal Sangha to oppose the demands of the six ethnic groups,” alleged the leaders of ATASU.

Criticizing the stand of Aditya Khaklari, the ATASU leaders said, “He has not only stabbed the sentiments and feelings of the six ethnic communities, but also betrayed the Assamese community.” “Khaklari must not cross his limit. If he does it, ATASU won’t tolerate,” threatened both Chetia and Buragohain.

On the issue of ONGC’s super-specialty hospital at Rajabari area in Sivasagar, the ATASU leaders said, “It was the outcome of a prolonged movement of several organizations that ONGC decided to set up a super-specialty hospital in Sivasagar, and the foundation stone of which was laid on November 17, 2013. But construction of the proposed hospital is yet to begin.”

“We have been repeatedly putting our demands before the ONGC authorities in this regard, but the authority has not been responsive yet. Therefore, protesting the lackadaisical attitude of the ONGC, we are imposing a 48-hour ONGC blockade in Sivasagar from 5 am on June 16,” declared the ATASU leaders.