The 163rd National Integration Day of Adivasis or the Hul Divas was observed on Saturday at Monglajhora High School playground at Karigaon Joypur in Kokrajhar with a day-long programme to pay tribute to martyr brothers Sidho and Kanho in memory of their uprising against the British in 1855.
More than 10,000 people gathered in the celebration of the 163rd National Integration Day of Adivasis or the Hul Divas from Kokrajhar, Chirang, Gossaigaon, Baksa at Monglajhora High School playground at Karigaon Joypur in Kokrajhar district.
Organised by the Adivasi National Convention (ANC), the day-long programme started with a flag-hoisting ceremony by Boyal Hembrom, president of ANCC and Birsing Munda, general secretary of the ANC, followed by paying of homage to martyrs by Moseram Marandi, president of Assam Santali Sahitya Sabha.
A plantation programme was also organized on the occasion which was inaugurated by Kamleswar Brahma, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Haltugaon Division.
Later, the open session was held which was presided over by Ananias Hembrom, president of the reception committee. The committee also felicitated successful students from the community who passed the last HSLC examination securing first division.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the meeting, Durga Hasda, chairman of the Birsa Commando Force (BSF) ceasefire group, said, “The ceasefire groups of the Adivasis and the Adivasi people have been deprived of their rights.”
He also said, “The Adivasi people are enjoying ST status in other States but here in Assam, we have not been granted ST status by the Government.” He slammed the Government both at the Centre and the State for taking no positive steps to grant ST status to the Adivasi community.
Hasda said that the BJP had promised to provide ST status to the Adivasi community within six months after coming to power in the State but they have forgotten their promise.
He further stated that the BJP would get the result of their false promise in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election in 2019, if they do not grant ST status to the Adivasis. So, he urged the BJP-led Central Government to grant ST status to the Adivasi community before the Lok Sabha election 2019.
In the open session of the 163rd National Integration Day of Adivasis or the Hul Divas, representatives of several students’ organizations like ABSU, AAGSU, AASSA and leaders from other organizations were present.