Assam as ‘tribal state’

Barak people seek intervention of President in ‘tribal state’ issue

SILCHAR, July 20: Hundreds of people belonging to different social organizations under the aegis of Citizens’ Forum today staged a protest demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, opposing the probable move to declare Assam as ‘tribal state’. The denizens also submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India, detailing their grievances against such feasible move by the Centre and the State in line with the demand of ULFA.

The leaders in chorus said that the Centre and the State should think of probable repercussions that might arise following such move. They said that Assam is a multilingual and multiethnic State and non tribal people covers two third of the State population.

They said that people have the right to know the details of different demands placed by the ULFA before the Home Ministry. It is mandatory to reveal the Government’s stand on all these demand. They said that they would not bow down to any unilateral decision of the Centre taken keeping the people in dark.

The leaders said that the identity of around 1.5 crores Bengali speaking people is under threat following the reported statement of Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, that his government would have no objection to the ULFA’s demand of ‘tribal state’ or to give Assam the status of ‘tribal state.’ The majority of the population will face difficulty in getting jobs and they would be deprived from different constitutional rights. The move will create a restless situation in the entire State. They opined that in the larger interest of the people and to maintain tranquility and peace, the Government should ignore such demands of the pro–talks of ULFA.

A copy of the memorandum was also sent to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi and to president of pro–talks ULFA, Aravinda Rajkhowa.

 The leaders who spoke on the occasion included Ataur Rehman Mazarbhuiya, AIUDF MLA of Katigorah, Paritosh Paul Choudhury, a senior citizen and a journalist, and others.

Source:
http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=165544&dtP=2013-07-20&ppr=1#165544