ATASU protests over ST status

Atasu activists take out a rally in dibrugarh on monday. Picture by ub photos

Dibrugarh, Sept. 3: The district committee of the All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) today staged a demonstration in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here, seeking inclusion of the community in the Scheduled Tribe list in accordance with Article 342 of the Constitution.

About 300 people, holding placards and banners, took part in the demonstration.

“The Scheduled Tribe status is a long-pending demand of the Tai Ahom community. We want the Centre to recognise our status and take immediate steps to fulfil the genuine demand,” said Chow Minaram Gogoi, president of the district committee of ATASU.

“We have been demanding ST status for a long time because we fulfil all the criteria for it. But till date, the government has not met our demands. So we have gathered here to protest against the government’s rigid stance. We will not tolerate any injustice towards our community,” he added.

“The chief minister and his cabinet colleagues had earlier assured us that the Tai Ahom community would be in the Scheduled Tribe list. But it is not known to us why they have not given us the ST status till date,” the union leader said.

“If the demand is not met, we will not be responsible for the consequences,” he added.