DIMORIA, Nov 14: Eighteen organisations on Saturday opposed the proposed removal of six Dimoria constituencies of the Tiwa Autonomous Council and decided to continue their legal battle and launch peaceful democratic protests.
Representatives of the organisations took three key decisions at a citizens' meeting convened by the Dimoria District Tribal Sangha. They demanded that the upcoming Tiwa Autonomous Council election in December be held in the existing six Dimoria constituencies without any changes.
The organisations alleged that attempts to merge the tribal belt and block areas of Dimoria with Guwahati city in the name of development could affect land, forest areas and the rights of local people. People from Chandrapur, Panikhaiti and other parts of greater Dimoria opposed the proposal, the meeting said.
They said the election should be held in the six existing constituencies in accordance with the provisions of the 2005 amendment law on Tiwa Autonomous Council elections. The meeting also noted that six organisations had approached the court over the issue in 2015.
The representatives said the areas were tribal-dominated and had clusters of villages. They said Bodo, Kachari, Tiwa and Rabha communities lived in several Dimoria villages, while more than 10,000 to 15,000 Koch Rajbongshi people lived in 43 villages.
The organisations resolved to continue legal action against the proposed removal of constituencies and related issues. They said they would intensify peaceful democratic protests, including hunger strikes, demonstrations and road blockades, if their demands were not met.
