Date:18/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/18/stories/2007121850050100.htm

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Assam groups won’t attend Delhi meet

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: Organisations of six communities of Assam — Koch-Rajbanshis, Morans, Muttocks, Tea tribes/Adivasis, Tai-Ahoms and Chutias — have turned down an invitation by Union Tribal Affairs Minister P.R. Kyndiah for a meeting in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss the issue of granting them ST status.

A coordination committee meeting held at Sivasagar on Sunday also decided to call a 36-hour Assam bandh on December 30-31 to press their demand for ST status.

The organisations earlier rejected an economic package announced by the Assam government following the November 24 violence at Beltola here during a procession by the All-Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA).

Bandh peaceful

Meanwhile, a 12-hour bandh called by the AASAA on Monday demanding the inclusion of the Adivasis and tea tribes in the ST list passed off peacefully. In a stray incident, a truck was torched in Darrang district. Thousands of bandh supporters blocked national highways and squatted on the rail track, leading to disruption of services.

AASAA chief organising secretary Bosco Chermaco said his organisation decided not to participate in the Delhi meeting as past discussions did not yield result.

Leaders of the All-Koch Rajbanshi Students’ Union (AKRSU), who have been on fast here since December 14 demanding a separate Kamatapur State, also rejected Mr. Kyndiah’s invitation. Its president Biswajit Ray said his organisation would take part in the meeting if it was convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The meeting convened by Mr. Kyndiah was a Congress “ploy" to placate the six communities ahead of the panchayat polls due to begin in the State on December 31, the AKRSU said.