GOALPARA, Dec 30 � The Rabha Hajong Joint Movement Committee (RHJMC) has decided to go ahead with their first phase of agitation by observing a 36-hour bandh from January 3, 2013 from 5 am in the Rabha Hajong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas as announced earlier in protest against the holding of the Panchayat elections after the State government has dismissed their demands for holding the RHAC elections instead.
This decision was taken in an emergent meeting of the RHJMC representatives held today at the central office of All Rabha Students Union (ARSU), Dudhnoi under the presidentship of convener of RHJMC Tankeswar Rabha where a number of important decisions were also taken along with the roadmap for the future agaitational programmes. The RHJMC also decided to sensitise the general public by holding several public awareness meetings on January 6, 2013 at Dhupdhara, on January 7, 2013 at Boko and at Agia (date not fixed yet) which will then be followed by a massive public rally to be organised at Dudhnoi on January 11, 2013.
Talking to this correspondent over phone, Tankeswar Rabha said that they have no other way but to oppose vehemently and start a democratic movement again until and unless the State government decides to give in to their demands.
He also said that the situation remains the same and the Congress Government will be solely responsible if the situation continues to deteriorate and there is any flare-up between different communities in the RHAC areas. earlier the Assam State Election Commission has to defer the Panchayat elections in the areas falling under RHAC areas following a report from the Home and Political departments, Government of Assam in, vide letter no PLA-850/2007/57 dated 14/12/2007, where serious apprehensions were expressed by the government indicating that there will be serious breach of peace involving ethnic clashes and even loss of lives.
