The indigenous Students Forum has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Assam Sri Tarun Gogoi through the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao District today (Friday) with a prayer to immediately bifurcate the district of N C Hills with separate Autonomous Councils under Article 244(2) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India as further delay would only result in increasing the sufferings and exploitation of the Indigenous people.It is stated in the memorandum that memoranda after memorandum have been submitted and several rounds of talks have been held. But no tangible steps towards the bifurcation of the district have been taken. They argued if the Government can fulfill the illegitimate demand of a section by renaming the ancestral land of the majority non-Dimasas indigenous people, it was beyond their comprehension as to why their constitutional and legitimate demand has not been fulfilled yet or do they also need to shoot trains to make their voices heard.
Further it is mentioned that the Govt of Assam had constituted a GOM (Group of Ministers) to look into the demand of the Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF) way back on the 16th July 2010. However, before holding a single talk with the Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF) , it had to be dissolved again in the wake of Assam Assembly Election in April 2011. And the GOM is yet to be set up after the formation of the new ministry. It has become crystal clear that the Govt was using delay tactics which has led many people loose their faith in democratic and peaceful means to achieve the democratic goal of bifurcation.
In expectation of immediate due response to their constitutional and democratic demand they, The NCHIlls Indigenous Students Forum staged Hunger Strike in front the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Haflong from 9 am of June 30th to 5 PM of July 1.
~Anup Biswas, Assam Times
