Protest rally against Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner

From a Correspondent

Haflong, Aug 2: All Apex Bodies Co-Ordition Committee, Dima Hasao, on behalf of the people living in Dima Hasao district, held a protest rally against the alleged deliberate attempts of the Deputy Commissioner to destroy the fabric of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in Dima Hasao district, at Haflong on Wednesday. Hundreds of people took part in the rally which started from Lal field (Town Committee field) and marched through the major parts of Haflong and reached up to the council rotary and again assembled at the same place where several leaders explained the objective of the rally.

Later, a memorandum detailing the grievances against deliberate attempts of the Deputy Commissioner to destroy the fabric of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in Dima Hasao was submitted to the Chief Minister. The memorandum stated that the All Apex Bodies Co-Ordition Committee, Dima Hasao, representing all the 19 tribes and communities, would like to express the sense of outrage at unmitigated hardships being faced by the tribal community due to the discrimition shown by Ranjit Hazarika, Deputy Commissioner of Dima Hasao district, which had jolted the sentiments of the hill tribes living in this district.

 The memorandum further stated that all the apex bodies and the other student organizations firmly believed that the present Deputy Commissioner had been webbing wrong policies which were aimed to dilute the Sixth Schedule status of this district by showing utter negligence to all leaders, both socially and politically. The organizations demanded immediate steps and stern action against Ranjit Hazarika for such heinous policies meted out by him and sought his transfer from Dima Hasao district administration.

 The memorandum stated that during the Chief Minister’s visit to the district, all social as well as political leaders were expecting an audience with him in order to express their grievances and seek his advice. But the Deputy Commissioner allegedly did not follow the common protocol to invite all the communities and student organizations of the district for the iugural programme, which hurt the sentiments of the people. “Ranjit Hazarika has not only neglected the social organizations but has also insulted the political leaders of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, which includes the lone MLA of this district, by not giving them the proper honour as deserved by each of them.  Such negligence and disrespect is a humiliation to the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Article 244 (2) and Article 275 (1) and also an insult towards the social and political leaders as well as the people of this district,” it said.

 “This has raised concerns among the apex bodies as well as citizens of this district about the Deputy Commissioner and his shady activities because this has not been his first attempt to de-margilize the hill tribes. Even earlier he, along with two other officials -Rahul Doley, Assistant Commissioner, Dima Hasao - has initiated policies to create commul tension among tribes by showing favouritism. It was the wisdom and friendship among the apex body leaders that stopped their dubious moves from advancing and creating tension among the innocent communities. Such humiliation was not at all acceptable by the leaders of all apex bodies and student organizations of this district,” stated the memorandum. The apex bodies demanded strict action against Ranjit Hazarika and his two supporters.