JDP,JPP-AJSU call for J'khand bandh tomorrow

Jamshedpur, Nov 25 (UNI) Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP), Jharkhand Peoples' Party (JPP), All Jharkhand Students' Unions (AJSU) and other adivasi organisations today called for Jharkhand bandh tomorrow in protest against the attack on the tribals in Assam yesterday.

JDP chairman and All India Adivasi Coordination Committee(AIACC) secretary Salkhan Murmu said yesterday's incident in Guwahati was a shame on humanity and an ''apartheid policy'' of the Assam government towards the adivasis in the state.

Mr Murmu alleged it was a deliberate attack on the adivasis, who shifted from Jharkhand and Bihar about 150 years ago, and urged the Centre to introduce a Bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament to give Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the tribals of Assam.

He lamented that despite the presence of police in the heart of the Assam capital, the mass lynched the hapless adivasis, including women, who took out rally for their democratic rights.

Mr Murmu said apart from Jharkhand, bandhs would be held in adivasi pockets of Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh tomorrow.

He said the adivasis would also take out torch rallies wearing black badges in various places today.

JPP general secretary Surya Singh Besra and AJSU president Bimal Kachchyap demanded immediate dismissal of the Assam government and said yesterday's incident was a ''black day'' for the country's democracy. They said the Centre should intervene without delay as the situation was volatile in Assam.

Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister S Mahto also condemned the killing of adivasis in Assam and urged the Centre to intervene in the matter and provide security to the adivasis in the state.

Talking to UNI, Mr Mahto said the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo Shibu Soren, along with some Jharkhand ministers, will soon head for Guwahati to take stock of the situation.

The JMM would also support tomorrow's Jharkhand bandh, he added.

UNI