Ranchi, Dec 4 - Tribal leaders in Jharkhand have threatened to launch an economic blockade if the central government does not grant Scheduled Tribes (ST) status to Assam's tea garden tribals by December 17.Various tribal groups active here have launched an agitation in support of tribals who moved to Assam 150 years ago. Some of the militant tribal groups active in Assam are also seeking support for their cause in Jharkhand.The Adivasi Cobra Military (ACM), Birsa Commando Force (BCF) and Akhil Assam Adivasi Chhatra Sangh (AAACS) have launched their campaign in Jharkhand.These tribal organisations are getting support of Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP), Adivasi Action Committee (AAC) and Adivasi Chhatra Sangh (ACS).'We are in support of the demand of tribals of Assam. We have given time till December 17 to Assam and the central government to seriously consider the demand of according ST status to tribals living in Assam for more than 150 years,' said Salkhan Murmu, president of the JDP.He said, 'The organisations active in Assam for the cause of tribal people have arrived in the state and they are seeking support in favour of their demand. We support their demand.'ACS president Chamra Linda said, 'If the tribals of Assam are not given ST status, we will launch an economic blockade in the state. We will not allow mineral of the state to go out of the state. We fully support the Assam organisations seeking support here'.A fortnight ago some tribals took out a march in Assam in support of their demand. The tribals were brutally beaten and a woman was stripped and chased away by the locals. The Assam violence infuriated the tribal leaders of Jharkhand.Two former chief ministers of Jharkhand, Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda, visited Assam and consoled the injured persons and their family members.The Jharkhand government also constituted a team headed by former minister Shibu Soren to take stock of the situation. All the tribal leaders condemned the Assam violence and questioned the sincerity of the Assam government. A strike was called to protest the violence in Assam.Since the Assam violence, tribal organisations in the state are holding seminars and taking out procession in support of the tribals of Assam. What has compounded the problem is the statement of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil that tribals would not be included in ST list and there would be no CBI inquiry into the incidents of violence against them in Guwahati.'Patil is playing with the dead bodies of tribal people. The Congress should be ashamed of Patil's statement. What is the problem with ordering a CBI inquiry?' asked Arjun Munda.
(c) Indo-Asian News Service
