GUWAHATI, February 12 (MExN): The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organisations of Assam (CCTOA) staged a 12-hour hunger strike at Kokrakhar in lower Assam on Tuesday in protest against the proposed Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Under the Bill, six communities of Assam – Moran, Motok, Tai-Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Chutia and tea garden community – will get Scheduled Tribe status if it is implemented.
According to news reports, hundreds of students from various educational institutions of the town joined the rally, displaying placards and shouting slogans.
The Shillong Times quoting Erakdao Brahma, the convener of People’s Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM), a participating member of CCTOA, on Tuesday reported that the organization said the agitation will be continued till the Bill is scrapped.
Meanwhile, the CCTOA has also called a 12-hour Assam bandh on February in protest against the Centre’s move to implement the Bill, it added.
They demanded that instead of granting ST status to six OBC communities, they should be provided with appropriate and adequate governmental support within their own reservation quota, another news report added.
