Government must ensure fundamental rights to underprivileged communities: Aru Roy

ABSU’s golden jubilee celebration concludes

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Feb 15: The golden jubilee celebration of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) held at Jangkrithai Fwthar, Kokrajhar, concluded on Wednesday with a huge rush of people to the historic field. The 49th conference of the ABSU concluded with some significant resolutions for the Bodo and other downtrodden communities of the region.

Addressing the huge crowd, the chief guest of the open session, Aru Roy, who is the founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and a Magsaysay Award winner, said the government must ensure the fundamental rights to every underprivileged community of the country. She said non-violent struggle with Mahatma Gandhi’s principle was the greatest form of movement and the student bodies which were fighting for their legitimate rights should follow this concept. She also said the government on many occasions was seen not to be serious in sorting out the problems faced by the underprivileged communities and as a result, the problems got complicated. “Instead, the government imposes draconian law like Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and harasses the common people. For what reason is the government compelled to impose such law for the people and if the government cannot solve any problem then who is responsible for any untoward situation?” she questioned.

Roy said that politicians and political parties always tried to take advantage for their selfish interest. “The country is not the parental property of political leaders who rule, but it is the people who decide,” she said, adding that the underprivileged communities should understand and come forward to teach a lesson. She said united struggle was very important on common issues of neglected communities. She also called upon the ABSU to take a role in different issues in the tiol level as their participation was very important to strengthen the united voice against injustice.

      The chief guest said the Preamble to the Constitution had three words, iberty, equality and fraternity that speak about the rights of equal development and justice, but despite this fact, there were many communities who were being deprived and this was the reason for which struggle for existence occurred. Praising the efforts of the ABSU for the downtrodden communities, she said they had also learnt many things from the ABSU movement. She further said the voice of people must reach New Delhi.

Niketu Iralu, member of Initiative of Change, galand and UN Brahma Soldier of Humanity Award winner, said the ABSU had demonstrated their movement afresh through the golden jubilee celebration with their mission for their legitimate rights. He said the ABSU had done much to draw the attention of New Delhi on the issues of the north-eastern region. Iralu lamented that only negative aspects of the north-eastern region reach the tiol media but all good aspects were hidden, for which the region was being looked at with different eyes. He also praised the ABSU for working against violence and terrorism in the region.

Editor of Pioneer news magazine and former MP, Chandan Brahma said the USA had only 30 crore population but it had 50 states while population of India was 130 crore but it had only 29 States. He said the NDA government led by Atul Behari Vajpayee created three new States, Chattisgargh, Uttarakhandh and Jharkhandh in 2000 for better and effective administration and development of people, but Bodoland and Gorkhaland were denied. He said that he fully supported the creation of Bodoland and he would always be with the Bodos in their issue.

The meeting was also addressed by Ruby Hembrom, founder and director of ADIVAANI, Kolkata, Shreekrish Anirudha Gautam, former press advisor of Nepal Prime Minister, Prof. Shanta Sinha, former chairperson of NCPCR and human rights defender, Swapjit Sanyal, working president, Vidarbha Rajya Aghadi, gpur, Aditya Khaklary, general secretary of All Assam Tribal Sangha, Biy Tamang, EM of Gorkhaland Territorial Council, Neeru Reddy, advocate general of Meghalaya, Wilson Chumpramary, MLA, West Bengal, Tangkeswar Rabha, Chief Executive Member of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, Ranjan Daimary, chairman of NDFB, former Rajya Sabha MP- UG Brahma and was also attended by former MP SK Bwiswmuthiary, Gobinda Basumatary, general secretary, NDFB (P), president of Boro Women’s Justice Forum Anjali Daimary, presidents and secretaries of ARSU, DSU, Barman Kachary Students’ Union, Deuri Students’ Union, Tiwa Students’ Union, Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union, Hajong Students’ Union, Garo Students’ Union, Tenghal Kachari Students’ Union, PJACBM and delegates from Tripura.

The welcome address was given by Subung Basumatary, president of the reception committee and the open session was chaired by the president of ABSU, Promod Boro. The open session was iugurated by member of Initiative of Change of galand, Niketu Iralu.

Earlier, the foundation-cum-golden jubilee celebration of the ABSU was opened in the main stage. The leaders, workers and activists danced together to mark the golden jubilee with joy.

In the morning, a colourful cultural rally with different traditions was brought out. The rally was flagged off by former president of the ABSU-Rwngwra rzary. The rally started from Jangkrithai Fwthar and proceeded towards Kargaon connecting Jwhwlao Dwimalu Road, RN Brahma Road, Habrubari and to venue.