Members of non-Rabha groups attend a protest rally in Goalpara. File picture

Dhubri, March 8: Rabha organisations have alleged that non-publication of the final draft of villages for delimitation in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council area, as scheduled for today, is a ploy by the state government to delay polls to the council.

Official sources in Goalpara and Kamrup said it would take another 10 to 12 days to complete the process of hearing and the publication of the final draft because of submission of huge numbers of claims and objections in villages and general councils.

Goalpara deputy commissioner Pritam Saikia said he was expecting to receive the order for extension of the date of publication of the final draft from the state election commissioner’s office on Monday.

In Goalpara district, 412 claims and objections had been received till March 5, the last date for submission, which had been extended from the earlier date of February 28. “We are trying to dispose the claims and objections through hearing as fast as possible but it will take at least 10-12 days to complete the process and compile the report for the final draft,” Saikia said.

Rabha organisations, however, attributed the delay to “insincerity and unwillingness” on part of the government to hold the council election in time.

The president of All Rabha Students’ Union (Arsu), Tonkeswar Rabha, told The Telegraph that they had earlier expressed apprehension on the government’s sincerity to hold the council poll after the panchayat. “That is why we had opposed the decision and demanded holding of the poll before the panchayat election.”

“It is now 18 years since the council came into being and over the years the state government has delayed the poll on this and that pretext. When the election commissioner has announced the poll date, why is the poll process being delayed?” Rabha asked.

Rabha said 10 additional deputy commissioner posts were created in 1991 specifically for the land survey of six communities comprising Scheduled Tribes (ST), Koch Rajbangshi, Scheduled Castes (SC), Santhal and Nepalis living in tribal belts and blocks. “But till now not a single official has been appointed for the Rabha areas and the non-scheduled communities have been allowed to encroach upon our land,” he said.

Rabha also termed the demand of non-Rabhas for the exclusion of 394 villages completely baseless since the areas come under the tribal belts, blocks and sub-plans.

He, however, assured the co-operation of all Rabha organisations in holding the council poll on the scheduled date.