OUR CORRESPONDENT
TINSUKIA: The Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee (TADCDC) and Margherita district unit of the All Assam Tribal Sangha have announced that 65 revenue villages and contiguous tribal villages comprising of 1 lakh population under Tirap Tribal Belt in Tinsukia district's Margherita subdivision will boycott the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the forthcoming election and intensify their agitation against non-fulfilment of their demands, including formation of autonomous district council.
In a press meet at Tinsukia Press Club on Monday, TADCDC general secretary Nakul Singpho said that the trial belt consisting of eight indigenous communities like Sema, Singphoo, Tangsa, Tai Phake, Tai Khamti, Deuri and Tai Khamyang had been deprived of the basic rights guaranteed in the Indian Constitution and under the SC&ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the ST & other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Right) Act, 2006. They were deceived by all legislators, including present MLA Bhaskar Sharma and the State leaders like Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Despite submitting two memoranda to the Chief Minister justifying their demand for autonomous council, the government adopted discriminatory and deceptive attitude towards the tribal people of Margherita, alleged Singpho.
After having been neglected for ages in every sphere like development, protection and basic tribal rights, the members of the committee, while reiterating their demand for autonomous council, announced a series of agitations. The TADCDC will resort to road blockade at 153 NH on February 19 followed by Tinsukia bandh on February 24 and demonstration in front of the office of SDO (Civil) Margherita on March 1.