Adivasi leader perturbed over refusal to enter polling booth with axe

The officer in charge of the polling centre at the Dambana junior college had reportedly not allowed the Adivasi Deputy leader Gunabandiyala Aththo from voting as he had tried to enter the centre with the traditional axe flung over his left shoulder, a cultural identity of the Adivasi people.

As a result, the entire family, including the deputy leader, had refrained from voting.

Later however the officer in charge of the polling centre at Dambana junior college had reportedly allowed the Adivasi leader Uruwarige Wannila Aththo to enter the polling centre with his axe. However Gunabandiyala Aththo and other members from the Adivasi community have left the booth without voting.

Speaking to the media later Adivasi leader Uruwarige Wanniyala Aththo said officials should respect the cultural identities of the Adivasi people. He said the Adivasi people have entered airports, courts and other important places in their traditional attire and he could not understand why his people can’t go to vote in a similar manner.

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