Tribal bodies call for boycott of state BJP chief Dilip Saikia over anti-tribal remarks

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: The All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) and other tribal bodies like All Assam Tribal Youth league (AATYL), and All Assam Tribal Students’ Union (AATSU) have urged all tribal communities to boycott Assam State BJP president Dilip Saikia in the tribal areas. The organizations said that they were compelled to take this decision in response to the remarks made by Saikia, which they alleged were against the interests of tribal people in Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) region, and across Assam.

The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations, Assam (CCTOA) pointed to Saikia’s recent statements, in which he allegedly made derogatory remarks concerning the rights of tribal people over land in sixth schedule autonomous areas and in tribal belts and blocks. Saikia is reported to have declared that, even if laws had to be amended, arrangements would be made to allow people from places such as Guwahati, Dibrugarh, or other regions to purchase land in these areas. He also reportedly stated that in areas where sixth schedule provisions apply, the laws governing tribal belts and blocks, as well as chapter-X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act, would not be applicable.

The tribal organizations condemned these remarks as anti-tribal, describing Saikia as a person with prejudice against tribal communities. The tribal bodies also said that Assam’s indigenous tribal people were deeply hurt by Saikia’s remarks. Consequently, they said that the boycott would remain in place until he withdrew the comments and gave a public assurance that he would never attempt again to amend or interfere with the laws protecting the sixth schedule autonomous areas and the tribal belts and blocks.

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