Karbis stage a protest against Centre's move to grant ST-H status to Bodos

Diphu, November 12, 2018:

The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), Karbi Student s’Association (KSA) and Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA) took out a protest demonstration against the Centre’s move to grant ST (H) status to the Bodos living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

https://www.facebook.com/ne.inside/videos/284629088830251/

More than 10,000 people took part in the protest that was staged in front of the Ru-Semsonsing Ingti Memorial Park. A memorandum was also submitted to the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram through the Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong demanding revocation of the Centre’s decision.

“The hill tribes are more insular economically, socially and educationally than other tribes. That is why, Article 330 (1) (b) and (c) was incorporated in the Constitution reserving seats in the Assembly and Parliament for the tribes belonging to autonomous districts only. This is also a reason behind making two different lists of tribes in Assam,” an ASDC leader said.

ASDC president Holiram Terang said, “The BJP-led government repeated attempts to grant ST (H) status to the Bodos is politically-motivated. This is a sinister design to gradually exterminate the already marginalized hills tribes like Karbis, Dimasas, Garo, Hmars, Kukis, Khasis, Jiantias, Man and Nagas. Granting ST to Bodos will make the Article 330 (1) (b) (c) of the Constitution that reserves seats for the ST of the autonomous districts severely diluted. The very Constitutional mechanism of protecting the more insular and more backward hills tribes will be eroded making the hills tribes vulnerable to being overwhelmed by the advanced Bodos. The lone parliamentary seat and all the assembly seats in the hills will no longer remain exclusive to the 15 hills tribes."