Correspondents
TANGLA: The dawn-to-dusk Statewide bandh called by All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) to demand ST status for the Adivasis of Assam evoked mixed response in Udalguri district on Monday.
The district headquarter, including places like Tangla, Hattigarh, Attareghat, Kalaigaon, Rowta, Mazbat and Orang witnessed a complete shutdown of business establishments but in Bodo-dominated areas like Bhergaon and Khoirabari, shops and markets were seen functioning and people were also seen on the streets despite the bandh.
No major incident, except burning of tyres by bandh supporters, was reported from various places of Udalguri district. Commercial vehicles remained off the roads. The police and para-military troops were patrolling the major townships of the district during the bandh hours. The bandh was called by AASAA as the Bill regarding ST status to the six communities of Assam was not passed in the Rajya Sabha on February 9. “Reservation is our legal right. We will only be happy once it has legal sanction and is implemented. The BJP had promised it before election and Adivasi people voted overwhelmingly for the BJP. But if it is a bait for gaining political mileage then we are ready to give a befitting reply in the forthcoming polls,” president of AASAA Udalguri chapter, Tinku Orang said. He further lamented that a section of self-styled leaders of least-heard organizations were unnecessarily protesting the move of the government of granting ST status to the communities which was condemnable. “It is the government which, under the purview of constitutional guidelines, will initiate the move, if any. So what is wrong with the leaders of such organizations?” Orang said. He further made a sincere appeal to such people to refrain from making further comments on the issue.
Gossaigaon: The 12-hour Assam bandh called by the AASAA evoked total response in the area. There was no movement of trucks on the highways while private and government vehicles plying were escorted with convoys. Shops, markets, banks and other business institutions kept their shutters down, private offices remained closed and private vehicles kept off the roads. The attendance was thin in government offices as employees faced difficulties in reaching their offices. No untoward incident was reported till filing of this report.
Also read: Assam news