Boko, Dec 7: The Kamrup District Rabha Students’ Union on Saturday demand the government to include Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The Kamrup District Rabha Students’ Union, in collaboration with the Kamrup District Women’s Council and the Sixth Schedule demand committee, organised a massive torch light protest rally in Boko on Saturday evening.
Thousands of Rabha people carrying torches marched from Gandhi Maidan through Boko Primary Health Centre and Boko Police Station, before concluding the protest near the Boko Regional Rabha Students’ Union office.
Participants from ten regional units of the Rabha Students’ Union across Kamrup district, including men and women from several villages, joined the rally.
The protest reverberated with slogans such as “Assam Government Hai Hai”, “Assam Government Lier”, and “Sixth Schedule is our rightful demand” etc.
It may be mentioned that the All Rabha Students’ Union, All Rabha Women’s Council, and the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee have been staging parallel protests in Kamrup and Goalpara districts for the past two months.
According to Rabha leaders, the organisations will hold a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on December 12 to press for the demand.
Expressing strong resentment, Sixth Schedule Demand Committee president Dashanan Rabha alleged that the government has deceived the Rabha people with false promises. He warned that if the demand is not fulfilled before the forthcoming Assembly elections, the Rabha organisations will intensify their agitation. He further declared that Rabha organisations are prepared to field their own candidates in the Rabha Hasong region. Preparations are reportedly underway to contest in four Assembly constituencies located within Rabha Hasong and other Rabha-dominated areas.
Meanwhile, All Rabha Students’ Union vice-president Pradip Rabha reiterated that protests will continue until the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council is brought under the Sixth Schedule.
