GUWAHATI, Aug 21 � Demanding right over land to the local inhabitants of Guwahati, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) along with a joint forum of several development committees of Guwahati took out a procession from Dighalipukhuripar to DC office today. Thousands of people took to the streets, shouting slogans asserting their rights over land. The protest march was led by KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi.
�Despite several requests and memorandums, the Tarun Gogoi-led Government did not provide land patta to the indigenous people living for prolonged period of time on government land, hills, wetlands, etc. Four protesters lost their lives in a movement for land rights on June 22, 2011 in Guwahati,� the KMSS said. �The Dr Bhumidhar Barman committee formed after the negotiations between the Government and protesters to look into the matter also ditched the people,� the statement added.
The KMSS also warned that the movement for indigenous people�s right over their land would get stronger in future. It added that different groups of 252 unnayan committees under the KMSS would carry on the movement continuously.
The committees taking part in today�s procession included Rajah Nagar Unnayan Samity, Anil Nagar Unnayan Samity and other committees from Ujjal Nagar, Ram Nagar, Dakshin Gaon, Rangpur, Jyotisri Nagar, Hirimbapur.
KMSS student wing: The new students� organisation being launched by the KMSS is likely to prepare its programme tonight. Today was the first day of the two-day convention convened by the KMSS at the Lakhiram Baruah Sadan here to form the students� organisation.
The students� body will oppose the neo-liberal economic policy of the country and organise the students against the impact of this policy on the education sector.
Inaugurating the convention this morning, former Cotton College principal Professor Udayaditya Bharali urged the delegates to engage themselves in pro-people politics and oppose globalisation, religious fundamentalism, ethnic chauvinism, parochialism, etc.
Around 300 delegates who took part in the convention discussed the issues connected with the hike in tuition fees in colleges, the problems plaguing the semester system, commercialisation of education, problems faced by students in matters related to hostels, job surety, etc.
The convention was also addressed by Kangkan Deka, teacher of Darrang College, journalist Ajit Kumar Bhuyan and KMSS general secretary Akhil Gogoi, among others. It was presided over by ex-general secretary of the Cotton College Union Society Vasco D� Saikia, KMSS organising secretary Hussain Mohammad Sahjahan and Gauhati University student Bitu Sonowal.
