NAGPUR: Accusing the BJP of betraying Halba community by not fulfilling its electoral promise of resolving the ST status issue of Halbas, thousands of women from the Halba community will stage a ‘rasta roko’ (road blockade) in the city on Monday under the leadership of Nanda Parate of Aadim Kriti Samiti. The agitating women will gather at Golibar Chowk around 12pm and march towards Chitnis Park in Mahal, where they will block all roads.
Parate said that for decades, they had been struggling for their demand of restoring status as Scheduled Tribes, since Halbas had traditionally been in weaving occupation like Koshtis.
But the governments failed to recognize and differentiate Halbas and Koshti. While the latter got benefits of reservation in government jobs, Halbas were not given certificates and validation, Parate said.
“Last December, a protest with participation of over a lakh people brought the city to a standstill when we marched to Vidhan Bhavan. But the government, led by BJP, refused to pay any attention. So, this time we have decided to hold protest far away in Mahal,” she said.
