All Adivasi Students' Association (AASA) declares indefinite oil blockade

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: Aggrieved over the discriminatory attitude of Oil India Limited (OIL) in awarding compensation to affected families of Baghjan BGR5, the All Adivasi Students' Association (AASA) declared indefinite oil blockade in all operational activities of OIL in Tinsukia district from Thursday that affected operation in Langkashi, Kachumari, Hebeda, Deohal, Nimuguri, Baghjan, Makum-EPS, APS, OCS and functioning of Deep Company, GB Company and 4 SID Company.

In a press release, Raja Kujur, president, and Jaykay Tanti, assistant secretary of Tinsukia district committee of AASA, stated that though the organization had kept the agitation in abeyance following assurances of bipartite discussion on December 5, the discriminatory attitude would not be acceptable to the organization.

The OIL assured to pay compensation to affected people of Baghjan in two installments- Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000, but after releasing the first installment of Rs 30,000, the OIL allegedly deprived the Adivasi community while awarding the second installment, even as population of Adivasi community was more in Baghjan, stated Kujur, adding further that the local AASA had protested but OIL gave false assurances. The organization never protested or resorted to blockade during blowout phase. Instead, it supported OIL during crisis. The organization reiterated that the Adivasi community must get justice at par and would resort to agitation if their demands were not fulfilled.

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