𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐡𝐮𝐛𝐫𝐢 𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐉𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐁𝐂 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬, 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets on November 29, as the Dhubri Zilla Samiti of the Garia Maria Deshi Jatiya Parishad in Assam’s Dhubri, staged a massive demonstration in front of the co-district office in Golakganj. The rally aimed to press long-pending demands related to the socio-economic security and official recognition of the indigenous Deshi community. With strong slogans echoing across the area, demonstrators expressed deep frustration over what they described as the government’s failure to act on issues vital to their identity and survival.

The Parishad highlighted five core demands during the protest. They called for the immediate granting of OBC status to the Deshi community so that members can access reservation benefits and development schemes. They also sought the swift initiation of a comprehensive Garia-Maria Deshi survey to determine the community’s population, demographic presence and socio-economic conditions. Another key demand was the provision of land pattas, or title deeds, to secure ancestral land rights and prevent displacement. The Parishad further urged the government to set up a dedicated Deshi Development Council to design and implement welfare programmes. Finally, they demanded that the government remove the long-standing ‘D-Voter’ tag from community members, a label that has hindered their citizenship rights and political participation.

Afzalur Rahman, president of the Parishad, stressed that these demands reflect the fundamental constitutional rights needed for the community to live with dignity as an integral part of Assamese society. “We are indigenous people, yet our rights, our land, and even our identity are constantly questioned,” a protest leader said during the demonstration.