People's Democracy

On Guwahati Incidents

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement on November 26

THE Polit Bureau condemned the incidents of violence which took place in Guwahati on November 24 when the All Adivasi Students Association took out a rally. The demand that the adivasis be given scheduled tribe status is a legitimate one. The CPI(M) supports this demand.

However, the rally went out of control and shops and vehicles were attacked and damaged. This led to retaliation and many of the participants in the rally were brutally beaten up leading to some deaths and injuries to many. Such acts of violence cannot be condoned and must be condemned. The state administration and the police failed to intervene in time which could have prevented these ugly incidents. All efforts should be made for maintaining peace and to prevent any further clashes.