BONGAIGAON, Nov 30 - War of words between two State Cabinet ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Chandan Brahma during their campaign for Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) poll, has made it clear for the Koch Rajbongshi groups that the BJP-led State government has not taken their Scheduled Tribe (ST) demand seriously.
The differences which have developed between the two Cabinet ministers recently has sabotaged the process to be carried out by a group of ministers empowered to look into the ST demand issue, the leaders of the Koch Rajbongshi groups felt.
All Koch Rajbongshi Students� Union (AKRSU) had decided to organise a public rally at Champavati field beside the 31(C) National Highway jointly with All Adivasi Students� Association of Assam (AASAA) today to make the people aware of the current status of their ST demand.
But at the nick of time, the Chirang district administration has allegedly cancelled the permission of the meeting and forced the leaders to remain in their residences for the day.
Amid the restrictions, some of the Koch Rajbongshi leaders reached Greater Bongaigaon Press Club and addressed a news meet to express their grievances against the administration.
�We will take a stand against the BJP-led State government if our ST demand is not met soon,� AKRSU advisor Hiteswar Barman said.
�The government and the administration have no rights to deny permission for a public meeting if democracy prevails in the country,� said AASAA president Stephen Lakra.
�We have called our community people not to vote those parties who have opposed our demand for ST status in the BTC polls,� said AKRSU president Karmeswar Ray.
Leaders of both the student groups have decided to launch a massive agitation for their constitutional rights in the conning days.
Praktan AKRSU Samannayrakkhi Samiti, a body of former AKRSU members, has also criticized the government for its �double standard� on the issue granting of ST status.
�The government has no interest to solve the ST issue, which has become clear after infighting began between the two Cabinet ministers over ensuing BTC polls,� Samiti�s president Bimal Barman and general secretary Pramesh Ray said.
Meanwhile, All Assam Yuba Chatra Sanmilani president Troilokya Ray and general secretary Dharmendra Ray said that Chirang district election officer has included the people of a fringe village Pub Bhadragaon, located outside the council area, as BTC voters. The leaders termed this act of the election officer �a politically motivated decision� and demanded to stop the polling in Kajalgaon council seat.
