Adivasis in Assam are burning BJP leaders' effigies; here's why

MARGHERITA: An Upper Assam-based chapter of the All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam (AASAA) Margherita Regional Committee on Thursday burnt the effigies of BJP leaders Kamakhya Prasad Tassa, Rameswar Teli and Pallab Lochan Das along the National Highway 315 chiefly to protest the usage of the term "tea tribe" and "ex tea tribe" to describe them.

More than 100 members of AASSA's Margherita unit shouted various slogans against the BJP led governments at both the Centre and State levels.

Ramanus Lakra, General Secretary of All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) Tinsukia district Committee, said: "Adivasi community people are one of the deprived, exploited and cheated communities of Assam which any Government both at the Centre and State are using Adivasi community people only for vote bank politics and now the present BJP led government both at the centre and state is making mockery the adivasi community people of Assam which we are now repenting because BJP only thinks of ruling class people such as Adani, Ambani and Tata, not of the working class people."

"In our Constitution, there is no such word as tea tribe and ex tea tribe -- only the term adivasi is enlisted. But for their own interest, political parties are doing dirty politics and hence, adivasi community people of Assam are deprived everywhere."

"Urang, Kharia, Santhal, Munda, Bhil tribes fall under adivasi community and not tea tribe and ex tea tribe. We urge BJP led Government both at the Centre and State to give ST Status to adivasi people of Assam, land pattas to adivasi community people residing in Assam and to give caste certificate in the name of adivasi people and not tea tribe and ex tea tribe as it is illegal and unconstitutional", said Ramanus Lakra.

Jarnel Minz, president of AASAA's Margherita Regional Committee, lamented that the BJP led Government both at the Centre and state "is only dividing people in the name of caste, creed, race, language and religion, with development is only in name and speeches."

"Three BJP MPs of Assam - Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Rameswar Teli and Pallab Lochan Das - who represent the community didn't raise their voices at Parliament houses due to which adivasis of Assam are deprived from every where. In the upcoming Look Sabha polls, all the three BJP MP's shall get a befitting reply," warned Minz.

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