| Foes turn friends, consolidate BPF stance - AGP-BJP vows to ensure victory | ||
Kokrajhar/Guwahati, March 28 : Justin Lakra and Durga Hasda, two prominent Adivasi leaders, today joined Hagrama Mohilary’s Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), a party both had bitterly fought against in the past. Lakra, president of the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA), had not only campaigned against S.K. Bwismuthiary, the official candidate of the BPF in the last parliamentary elections but also against the BPF’s candidate in the last BTC and Assembly elections. Hasda floated the Birsa Commando Force (BCF) in 1997 for the protection of the Adivasi community in the wake of the ethnic riots between the Bodos and the Adivasis in the Bodo belt. The outfit is now in a ceasefire with the government. When Lakra today stood on the stage during the manifesto release function of Mohilary’s BPF — a partner of the ruling alliance — most were surprised, but not his own party. The student association said the development did not come as a surprise as Lakra was sent on leave on February 19 till the Adivasi Mahasabha on May 23, 24 and 25 because of his personal and public conduct was proving detrimental to organisation. AASAA’s president in-charge and chief organising secretary Bosco Chermaco told The Telegraph, “We have also heard about this development and knew that he was upto something. It is his personal decision and we have to respect that but would have felt happy had he joined either the Congress or the AGP..” Lakra said it was his personal decision to join the party because it was doing a good job and it would be easier to work for the welfare of his Adivasi community by becoming a part of it. “Joining the BPF is my personal decision. I announce my resignation from AASAA today,” Lakra, in his late thirties said, said. Along with Lakra, several of his associates, including AASAA’s assistant general secretary Samual Hembrum and diplomacy secretary Peter Hasda also joined the party after resigning from the association. Unlike Lakra, Hasda was close to the BPF and today he merely formalised his proximity to the party. The leaders were welcomed with Bodo traditional aronai. Welcoming the Adivasi leaders, Mohilary said to resounding applause, “Now we have the support of none other than Justin Lakra, the top leader of Adivasis. The victory of our candidate is final.” The BPF has re-nominated Bwismuthiary from Kokrajhar. Lakra also gave his reasons for joining the party. “The BPF is a local party and doing good development work in the region. I could have joined any party like the Congress or AGP or BJP. They would have welcomed me but I decided on the local party. I believe we will be able to achieve development for the Adivasi community after being part of the BTC. Being a part of the party we can have a say in the matter for the community,” he said. The Adivasi leader had campaigned for Sabdaram Rabha in the last parliamentary election. Rabha, the AGP-BJP candidate, who is seen as a major threat to the BPF this time, came second in the 2004 election. The development is seen as a major achievement for the BPF as Lakra is considered a senior leader of the community. The BPF manifesto, released by Mohilary, focussed on development work and equality for all communities. “The BTC has been focusing on development activities and working to achieve it. Our candidates will work according to the party manifesto,” he said. |
Showing posts with label adivasi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adivasi. Show all posts
Adivasi leaders join Hagrama
Adivasis to launch party on Jan. 4
UMANAND JAISWAL
Guwahati, Dec 29 : Adivasis in Assam are finalising plans of floating a party of their own on January 4, encouraged by the electoral success of parties that represent specific communities.
The idea of a party, however, took shape more from disenchantment with established parties, especially the Congress, than the lure of electoral gains.
Since the community plays a decisive role in several Assembly constituencies, particularly in the tea belts of Upper Assam and the north bank and in lower Assam, Adivasi leaders feel they can cause maximum electoral damage to established parties.
Reeling under decades of underdevelopment, the tea tribes have been up in arms demanding Scheduled Tribe status and gradually shifting their loyalty from the ruling Congress, which the com- munity had been stead- fastly backing since Independence.
With the Assam United Democratic Front, the Bodo People’s Front and the Autonomous State Demands Committee showing electoral might, the Adivasis, too, feel that they have a fair chance as a political power.
Barring any last minute changes, the party will be launched at a convention of the community’s various associations, convened by the Adivasi Council and supported by the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA), at Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur district.
Though the convention will deliberate on various issues, the formation of the party will dominate the proceedings.
The president of the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam, Justin Lakra, said the launch plans were in the final stage.
“A political party for the Adivasis had become imperative for securing the welfare of the community, used as a vote bank by political parties, mainly the Congress, which has always been trying to suppress our community. Senior community leaders have failed to deliver. The Tarun Gogoi government has not been able to do anything for Assam. We will rectify the situation. The party will be launched on January 4 and it will have a national character,” Lakra said.
The government, in fact, recently announced several welfare schemes for the community in an effort to appease them but that does not seem to have cut much ice.
David Horo, general secretary of the Adivasi students’ union, said: “We (Adivasis) need to unite and we need a party instead of leaders for deliverance. See what the AUDF or the Bodo parties have achieved with their MLAs. Like them, we also want to hold the key to governance to get a fair deal. Given our population, which would be around 80 lakh according to government estimates, we are in a position to play a critical political role in the state. In fact, we are seriously thinking of contesting Tezpur and Mangaldoi Lok Sabha seats. We know we can’t win in all seats but we have the vote to damage winning candidates,” Horo said.
The tribe’s resentment against the government was evident from Saturday’s 24-hour bandh called by the Birsa Commando Force, which is in ceasefire with the government since 2004, to protest the killing of three of its cadres in Udalguri on December 21.
The Adivasis are also unhappy with the manner in which the 2007 Beltola violence was handled.
Besides the Birsa Commando Force, Adivasi students’ union and the Adivasi Council, the Adivasi Mahila Samiti, Adivasi Sewa Samiti, Orang Mahasabha, Kuruk Mahasabha, Santhal Sabha and Munda Mahasabha are among the groups which are likely to join the convention.
“The proposal to float a political party enjoys our full backing and barring last-minute changes, it could materialise on January 4,” Horo said.
The Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) will also participate in the convention if invited, its president Prahlad Gowala said.
POLITICAL PATH
- Adivasi leaders keen to emulate success of AUDF, BPF in the Assembly by floating their own party so as not to depend on other parties to have their say
- Proposed party to have a national character and could be floated along lines of the Jharkhand Dishum Party (JDP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
- Proposed party may make electoral debut in ensuing Lok Sabha elections.May contest Mangaldoi Lok Sabha seat though Tezpur is also on their radar
- With an estimated population of over 70 lakh, the Adivasi leaders feel that they hold key to 30 per cent of the 126 Assembly seats in the state. Adivasi community in the state covers tea garden and ex-tea garden labourers
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