All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam (AASAA) observes 'black day'

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: The All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam (AASAA) observed Saturday as 'black day' marking the 17th death anniversary of the eight protesters who died of bullet wounds during a 12-hour strike to demand ST status for Adivasis on July 25, 2003 at Paneri in Udalguri district.

Udalguri chapter president Tinku Orang hoisted the organizational flag while village headman of KachibilBagicha, Shiva Prasad Gour hoisted the black flag and paid floral tributes to the martyrs at a low ceremony event held at KachubilBagicha Primary School near Paneri TE in Udalguri district on Saturday.

President of AASAA, Pradeep Nag said, "The Adivasi society remembers all the martyrs who were martyred for democratically raising their voices for the cause of the community with great reverberance."

He further reiterated that ST was the primary demand of the Adivasis of Assam as despite the community being recognized as Scheduled Tribe in other parts of the country, they were deprived of constitutional safeguard in Assam. He said that if the BJP government did not resolve the issue, the Adivasis were ready to give a fitting reply in the 2021 Assembly polls.

"Seventeen years have passed by but justice is still a mirage for the bereaved families of the martyrs," said publicity secretary of Udalguri chapter, AASAA, Laxman Porja .The programme was also attended by former MCLA, 33 No. NonaiSerfang BTC constituency, Suresh Tanti who also paid floral tribute at the Swahid Memorial Site.

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