GUWAHATI, Feb 25 � The All Assam Tribal Sangha today condemned both the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and the State government for the tragic death of Pranab Boro in a self-immolation case over land settlement rights over the city forest and wetland areas.
Tribal Sangha general secretary Aditya Khakhlary said in a statement that because of the incitement of the KMSS leaders, a section of the gullible tribal people of the State has been misled. Yesterday�s incident of self-immolation in front of the State Secretariat was the result of such incitements of the KMSS leaders, he alleged.
He also criticised the State government for its failure to initiate pre-emptive move to prevent such incidents despite the repeated threats issued by the KMSS through the media.
The Sangha supports the demand of the indigenous landless people. But it is very much against actions like self-immolation, Khakhlary said.
Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) president Dhiren Barua said the State government should take other organisations, too, into confidence while settling the issues related to land rights to the city landless people. Akhil Gogoi�s KMSS entered the scene only recently, whereas other organisations have been upholding the cause of the city�s landless indigenous settlers for the past several decades � right from the time of the Hiteswar Saikia�s regime.
The number of 80,000 such settlers was arrived at after a thorough survey conducted by the Revenue Department. In all, 27 organisations representing these people took part in the hearings held by the committee formed by the State government to examine the issue of settlement of the city�s landless people. KMSS was only one of them. The government is allotting land to the landless people on the basis of the recommendations made by the committee, Barua said.
All Assam Bhumi Adhikar Sangram Samiti president Prabinjyoti Kalita demanded punishment to Akhil Gogoi. He alleged that Akhil Gogoi is playing with the life of the common people.
Guwahati Matipattakaran Sangram Samiti president Pranab Goswami said Akhil Gogoi failed to lead a movement in a democratic manner. Self-immolation is not democratic. The State government also failed in its responsibilities of checking the unfortunate incident.
