'Tribal people are only used for vote bank politics'

From a Correspondent

MARGHERITA, January 10: Singpho,Sema,Tangsa and Man Tai (speaking) Development Council, Assam in collaboration with All Assam Tribal Sangha, Margherita Regiol Committee, on Sunday held a discussion on ‘Ethnic Identity, Constitutiol Rights and Economic Awareness of Ethnic Tribes’ in Margherita.

Milon Sonowal, president of All Assam Tribal Sangha, Aditya Khaklary,  general secretary of All Assam Tribal Sangha, Manje la, chairman of Eight Tribal Development Council, Krish Mech, president of Mech Kachari Development Council, Umanda Khaklary, organizing secretary of All Assam Tribal Youth Sangha and Lambodar Hazarika, president of All Assam Tribal Sangha Margherita District Committee took part in the discussion.

The discussion was presided over by Lambodar Hazarika. The iugural speech was delivered by Jitesh Bora, assistant secretary of All Assam Tribal Sangha where he emphasized on the rights of tribal people and ethnic identity of Assam. He said that even after 68 years of India’s Independence, ethnic tribes of Assam had been deprived by the government. In Margherita subdivision there were many tribes and ethnic tribes but even after so many elections political parties had not fielded any tribal candidate from Margherita, he said. Tangsa, Sema, Singpho, Mising and Deori tribal people were only used for vote bank politics, alleged Jitesh Bora.

Ja yak Bhimbor Deori and Bishabom Singpho-  two ethnic tribal freedom fighters had been forgotten but now but during the election campaign political leaders used their mes only to get votes, said Jitesh Bora.

Aditya Khaklary, general secretary of All Assam Tribal Sangha, said in his speech that the struggle of Prashan Turung, chairman of Tirap Autonomous Demand Committee, was incredible but today all tribal people must fight to get Tirap Autonomous Council. He emphasized that only education could help the tribal community develop. Khaklary said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had declared Tirap Autonomous Council but Gorkha community of Tirap region was hindering the process and had started agitation to oppose the formation of Tirap Autonomous Council.

More than 200 ethnic tribal people were present in today’s discussion. Later Aditya Khaklary  said that after Bhogali Bihu he would join the Congress party and many other tribal leaders from various Districts of Assam would also join their respective district Congress offices on the same day.