12-Hour bandh against ST-H status for Bodos paralyses Karbi Anglong

Guwahati, November 26, 2018:

The 12-hour Karbi Anglong bandh called by the Karbi Students’ Association (KSA) and 16 other organisations against the move to grant Scheduled Tribe-Hills (ST-H) status to the Bodos living in Karbi Anglong has paralysed the districts.

https://www.facebook.com/ne.inside/videos/285593638752408/

The Bandh was called from 5am to 5pm in the districts of Karbi Anglong & West Karbi Anglong.

“The hill tribes are more insular economically, socially and educationally than other tribes. That is why, Article 330 (1) (b) and (c) was incorporated in the Constitution reserving seats in the Assembly and Parliament for the tribes belonging to autonomous districts only. This is also a reason behind making two different lists of tribes in Assam,” the protesters said.

They further added, “The BJP-led government repeated attempts to grant ST (H) status to the Bodos is politically-motivated. This is a sinister design to gradually exterminate the already marginalized hills tribes like Karbis, Dimasas, Garo, Hmars, Kukis, Khasis, Jiantias, Man and Nagas. Granting ST to Bodos will make the Article 330 (1) (b) (c) of the Constitution that reserves seats for the ST of the autonomous districts severely diluted. The very Constitutional mechanism of protecting the more insular and more backward hills tribes will be eroded making the hills tribes vulnerable to being overwhelmed by the advanced Bodos. The lone parliamentary seat and all the assembly seats in the hills will no longer remain exclusive to the 15 hills tribes.”