A Correspondent, Palasbari: The Rabha community in Palasbari expressed strong opposition on Wednesday against the Assam government’s plan to establish a satellite township in the Barduar Tea Estate area. The protest began with a two-hour sit-in at the Palasbari RB Higher Secondary School playground, followed by a march to the Palasbari Revenue Circle office. The event was organized jointly by the Kamrup District Rabha Students’ Union, Rabha Mahila Parishad, and the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee. Leaders from the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), including president Motilal Bakchuk and general secretary Subhash Rabha, actively participated along with representatives from various indigenous and student groups. Demonstrators strongly opposed the government’s recent announcement—made public via the Chief Minister’s Office Facebook page—about setting up a 1,500-acre satellite township in Barduar Tea Estate. Carrying placards and chanting slogans like “Scrap the project” and “Go back CM Himanta Biswa Sarma,” protestors accused the authorities of ignoring the rights and concerns of indigenous communities. A memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was handed over to Circle Officer Dr. Ankita Sharma. It highlighted the risk of displacing nearly 2,100 Rabha families and warned that the project threatens their socio-economic stability and cultural heritage. The land in question, historically a sovereign Rabha kingdom, remains sensitive, with many residents still lacking formal land titles despite past rehabilitation initiatives in 1954 and 1974. The memorandum also criticized local MLA Hemanga Thakuria for betraying the community’s trust and warned of opposition against him in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections if the project is not halted. Protest leaders vowed to escalate their democratic struggle should the government fail to reconsider.
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