By Preetam B C
Kokrajhar: Normal life were parlayed in Bodoland region during the 12 hours Assam bandh called by the Bodoland Janajati Suraksha Mancha (BJSM) against the government proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six advanced communities of Assam.
The bandh which started 5 am today saw total response in the four Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC) administered districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri with educational institutions, business establishment like markets, banks remain closed. The roads, including National Highway 31C, which connects the Northeast to the rest of the country were deserted, though trains plied as usual. Essential commodities like milk and water supply, ambulances, pharmacy were exempted from the strike.
There were no reports of any untowards incident till the filing of this report.
Bodoland Janajati Suraksha Mancha (BJSM) acting President DD Narzary slammed the state and central government move to grant ST status to the six advanced communities stating that the proposed Constitution ST (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was not for constitutional need but purely for political need of political parties in Assam.
The six communities are Koch Rajbongsis, Tai Ahoms, Morans, Mottoks, Chutiyas and 36 Tea Tribes. These communities are at present listed as other backward classes (OBCs).
“They do not require any protection under special provision of the constitution. They do not require any special protection for political rights and land rights because they are superior numerically, 1.51 crores in compared to 38 lakhs of existing STs in Assam, Narzary said adding that the six communities are far advanced politically, educationally, socially, economically, compared to the existing indigenous tribal communities.
The Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA), a joint platform of various indigenous communities in Assam, has also expressed serious concern and voiced unequivocal opposition to the detrimental political move of the government to include 6 to six populous and advanced communities into the Scheduled Tribe (Plains) list of Assam and demanded withdrawal of ‘The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes’ Order (Amendment) Bill 2019’ from the house of Rajya Sabha in order to safeguard the constitutional Rights of Scheduled Tribes of Assam in particular and India in general.
The tribal organizations have threatened to unitedly intensify the mass democratic movement until and unless the Bill is withdrawn from Upper house of Parliament. The Coordination Committee of the Tribal Organizations of Assam (CCTOA) is organising a massive mass rally at Sonapur tomorrow in protest against the Bill.
