Press : Shri Tarun Vijay on killers of Rabha tribals and holding elections

Tarun Vijay demands punishment to killers of Rabha tribals and holding elections

26th Feb 2013 - New Delhi - Today making a storm in Rajya Sabha BJP MP Tarun Vijay described the killing of Rabha tribals on 12 Feb as a blot on Democvracy and demanded that the killers by punished, enquiry be set up and immediately elections be held with compensation to the victims.

He said in his emotional special mention at the fag end of the day that Rabha Tribals of Assam are one of the most brave, intelligent and patriotic people who have contributed enormously in the growth and development of the State. Having been deprived of the fruits of progress, they were given a Rabha Hosang autonomous council after a prolonged struggle in 1995. Unfortunately, till this date neither the boundary for this autonomous council has been demarcated nor elections to the autonomous council have been held. This has violated the sanctity of government’s assurance to the poor Rabha tribals and shaken their confidence in the democratic institutions of the country.

To demand their democratic rights, 34 various organizations of Rabha tribals began an agitation in February and to emphasize their woos and agony on this issue they declared the panchayat elections in Assam as a farce and felt that a government which has deprived them of the elections for the 18 years is holding panchayati elections to rub salt on their wounds and to facilitate Bangladeshi infiltrators get elected in such a electoral exercise. So they opposed the panchayat election in a non-violent satyagraha. But the brute police force of the State Government opened fire on them and without any warning, lathi charge or tear gas they targeted the demonstrators on their chests and foreheads. This violence has left 20 Rabha tribals dead on 12th February. I demand a thorough enquiry into this incident , killers be punished , compensation be paid to the victims and immediate instructions to the State Government be given to hold elections to Rabha Hosang Autonomous Council and demarcate their boundary.