The Hindu : National : Adivasi, tea tribes organisations issue ultimatum

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Saturday, Dec 01, 2007
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Adivasi, tea tribes organisations issue ultimatum

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: Adivasi and tea tribes organisations have issued an ultimatum that the Centre and the Assam government should clarify, within 15 days, their stand on including them in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

The ultimatum was issued after a five-hour meeting of Adivasi and tea tribe organisations and political leaders representing the communities. It was convened by the All-Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (AATTSA).

The AATTSA and the All-Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) also announced a ban on the entry of political parties in tea gardens and Adivasi villages during the coming panchayat polls. The ban would be in force till the government conceded their demand.

The AASAA has called a road blockade on December 3, while the AATTSA has called for an economic blockade of oil and coal on the same day to press their demand.

AATTSA president Prahlad Gowala and AASAA president Justin Lakra told reporters after the meeting that the organisations would meet on December 16 to decide on further action.

They warned of a vigorous movement if the governments did not concede their demand. They alleged that the Centre and the State government were making contradictory statements on the issue. Ahead of the meeting, the AATTSA, the AASAA and the All-Assam Students’ Union (AASU) issued an appeal to the people to stand united, and called for a halt to violence. They also demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the November 24 mob violence in the city.

The leaders clarified that their movement was only for ST status. It was not against any other ethnic group or community.

Representatives of the Congress, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party, however, urged the student leaders to withdraw the ban on entry of political parties during the panchayat polls. Reacting to the State government’s announcement that an Adivasi development council would be constituted, AATTSA said it would be studied after the council was formed.

The AASAA said that the announcement was only intended to divert attention from the main issue.

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