TMPK stages protest

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Golaghat, Feb 11: The Golaghat district Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) today staged a two-hour sit-in demonstration near Deputy Commissioner’s office here demanding solution to various problems of Mising community.

Talking to reporters, TMPK general secretary Padmalochan Doley said, “The Mising community is the oldest indigenous community in Assam. But this community is considered as the second class community in the state compared to other communities. Every government deprives Mising community in every step.”

The TMPK activists shouted slogans against Tarun Gogoi led Congress government for depriving the Mising community and slammed education minister Sarat Borkotoky. They alleged that Ali-Aye Lingang is the main festival of Mising community, but the education department has scheduled HSLC examition on the day of festival. They demanded to postpone the metric examition scheduled to be held on the day of festival immediately.

The TMPK activists demanded to announce Ali-Aye-Ligang as state holiday by the Assam government.

Further they demanded that section no. 19 & 25 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act should be re-amended and teachers should be appointed according to subjects and classes.  

They also demanded scrapping of the Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project at Gerukamukh along Assam-Aruchal Pradesh border.

Doley said, “Until and unless the government takes any adequate safety measures and steps for rehabilitation, resettlement of the downstream people, we will not allow carrying out construction work of the lower Subansiri hydroelectric project.”

Later they sent a memorandum with five points chartered demands to the Chief Minister through Deputy Commissioner of Golaghat to resolve the problems of Mising community.