Students’ body form human-chain to demand scrapping of Assam Cattle Act

DIBRUGARH:

The Tinsukia district unit of All Tai Ahom Students' Union (ATASU) on Wednesday formed a human-chain at Margherita Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) office to protest against the Assam Cattle Preservation Act 2021.

The student body also raised a slew of demands including granting of Schedule Tribe (ST) status to the community and conservation of newly-declared Dehing Patkai National Park, among others.

"The Cattle Preservation Bill will not benefit the poor. Especially, for the poor cattle farmers, it is a disaster. We demand immediate scrapping of the Bill," a member of ATASU said.

The students’ body also urged the government to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the community. “It has been a long-pending demand of the community. Previously, the Bharatiya Janata Party government had committed that it will grant us our due but nothing has been done till date. But during elections they use the issue to ripe political benefits," said Jayanta Konwar, leader of the students’ body.

Citing various issues such as poaching and pollution due to industrial activities in and around the Dehing Patkai National Park, ATASU has urged the government to do the necessary to conserve the National Park. "Dehing-Patkai National Park should be maintained in a proper way and the government should take steps for its conservation," said Binod Gogoi, leader of ATASU.

The students’ body also urged the government to restore historical structures belonging to the Ahom era that are lying in a neglected state.

(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)

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