15,000 rally for peace in Assam
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy : TNN
Jorhat, September 02 2012:
More than 15,000 people on Saturday participated in a massive peace rally in the heart of Sivasagar town in upper Assam demanding all political parties and organizations to maintain peace in the state.
The protesters, gathered in front of the historic Sivadol, called on all concerned to refrain from indulging in communal politics in the wake of violence in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas.
The rally was jointly organized by 27 organizations, including All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU), Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Krishok Mukti Sangram Samiti, All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association, Brihatter Asomiya Yuba Mancha (BAYM), Mech Kasari Jatiya Parishad, Ujoni Asom Muslim Kalyan Parishad, Maruwari Yuba Mancha, Takam Mishing Parin Kaubang and Mishing Mimag Kaubang.
The organizations said violence was continuing in BTC area for over a month due to the government's failure to handle the situation and anti-social elements and some political parties were trying to take advantage of the crisis.
"These religious and political elements are trying to break the unity of Assam.
We took to the street only for the greater good of the Assamese society," they added.
Atasu advisor Aswini Chetia said: "'We are living in a land where great religious saints and social reformers like Sankardeva and Ajan Peer were born.
We were ruled by great ruler like Siu-Ka-Pha and we have a rich history of unity among diversity.
But now, we are witnessing some anti-social elements trying to break our unity.
We will never allow them to succeed and would like to warn them that our unity is intact and it will remain so forever.
They must refrain from creating differences among," said.
Chetia added that the communal conflict in Kokrajhar and other BTC areas are glaring examples of the dirty politics played in the pretext of race, culture, community and religion.
The inaction of the government also adds fuel to it.
He also demanded the government to take proper action against the anti-social elements in BTC areas.
Ajycp's Sivasagar district president Dibyajyoti Das said: "Taking advantage of the BTC violence, two different groups have called for a two-day Assam bandh.
This is very unhealthy competition and detrimental for our society.
We protest against this trend and asked them to stop calling needless bandhs.
We will come out unanimously against such bandhs" .
BAYM district president Jadav Gogoi said the illegal infiltration from Bangladesh has now become a severe problem for Assam.
"Violence in BTC was caused by such illegal infiltration and it is supported by some fundamentalist groups.
We will fight against it," he said.