We’ll fight everything that comes our way: Aruna Roy

The Sentinel‎‎‎: Guwahati: Saturday, August 27, 2016.

All need to stand united to fight to ensure rights and powers, said Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Aruna Roy here today.

The 13th Upendra Brahma Soldier of Humanity Award, 2016 was conferred on socio-political and anti-corruption activist Aruna Roy today at a function held at Rabindra Bhawan in the city. The award was given away by the UNB Trust.

Receiving the award, Roy said: “The award hasn’t honoured me alone. It has honoured all those who have been with me in the fight to ensure human rights. The great honour for me is that I’ve been adjudged as the recipient of this award. Nonviolence has no alternative. Gun-totters are also not bad, but they’re backed by the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA). They want to establish the fact that they’ve been doing illegalities so as to ensure justice. But I know what democracy is. I fight to ensure rights. Despite starving, we celebrate the Independence Day. We do give a standing ovation when the National Anthem is sung. However, we get hurt when we’re framed as traitors. After being voted to power, thieves and corrupts gang up against us. The organizations that fight for a cause and do something good are very rare these days. We don’t need to feel defeated. Though we feel that we aren’t worthy enough, we’re the real patriots.  This is why we raise the demand for rights. We seek the demand for Bodoland, without going against the State. We seek a separate identity as we’re denied powers. Those in power want us to remain frustrated. We need to fight everything out that comes our way. We won’t give up the trail of something we’ve been pursuing. Market economy has made it to India – with political leaders standing in the front row, foreign powers standing behind them. The foreign power is out to take control of the land and its rivers which we had freed from colonialists. This is why we need RTI, RTE etc., Acts. Now six to eight million people file RTI applications in the country. They’re a scared lot now. We’ve fought and won, and will continue to fight. We’ve cautioned the enemies. There can’t be any question of independence without struggle. The fight against discrimination is underway. The policy of identity is political. The deprived ones need to get their rights.”