Farmers call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on February 16; ‘rail roko’ observed in Punjab
Meanwhile, the farm leaders will hold talk with Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityananad Rai, for the third time in a row, in Chandigarh
The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) staged demonstrations in different areas in the Terai and the Dooars region on Monday. It, however, did not call a shutdown, following requests from the administration.
The ABAVP had announced earlier that it would observe a bandh in this region, while it extends support to the ‘Bharat Bandh’ that was called by a group of organisations for on Monday in response to a proposal from the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Adhiniyam Bachao Sangharsha Samiti, protesting against the dilution of provision of Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“We principally extended support to the Bharat Bandh on Monday, but we did not observe it actively following requests from the administration as well as business wings,” ABAVP vice-president Tej Kumar Toppo said.
Advertisement
“We also finally decided to put off the strike because of the Higher Secondary and other exams going on in the region. Following requests from the administration, we also did not go for roadblocks and rail rook agitation. Notification for the rural polls was another reason for organizing a peaceful rally only in different areas in the Terai and the Dooars,” Mr Toppo added.
Followers of the ABAVP burned effigies of two judges of the Supreme Court for allegedly diluting the provision of the Act in front of the Malbazar Block Development Office on Monday.
Organizers also took out rallies in other towns in the Dooars and Terai, Mr Toppo said. “The Centre is formulating some anti-tribal policies, which are not desirable in our country. It is harmful for tribal people like us, and they will deprive Adivasi people of their rights,” Mr Toppo said, adding, “Without the Centre’s green signal, judges cannot issue anti-people judgments.”
Advertisement
