ASDC, allies stage sit-in against ‘pick and choose policy’ in Karbi Anglong

Our Correspondent

Diphu, Dec. 20 (EMN): The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and its allies, Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA), Karbi Women Organisation (KWO) and Karbi Students Association (KSA) of Jameson Timung faction organised a demonstration against the ‘pick and choose policy’ adopted by the central government.

The sit-in, held at Diphu Govt. Boys High School playground on Tuesday contemplated the creation of new states and demanded that an autonomous state should be created in the hill districts of Assam combining Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and NC Hills.

The ASDC and its allies have urged the central government to complete the process of state reorganisation of 1969 and pave the way to create an autonomous state in the three hill districts of Assam. 

ASDC workers from different areas of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong participated in the demonstration.

The ASDC president, Chandra Kanta Terang said that it is only Karbi Anglong and NC Hills that the two hill districts of Assam have provided the constitutional provision of Article 244(A) for demanding an autonomous state. The insertion of Article 244 (A) was made in the 22nd amendment of the constitution. The people of Karbi Anglong have missed the chance of getting an autonomous state in 1969 when Meghalaya created an autonomous state and in 1971 the state reorganisation of Northeast, he said.

“As it is there in the constitution so it is the commitment of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to fulfill. The Central government has taken a policy to create two new states Kamatapur and Eastern Frontier Nagaland. We are demanding the Central government to include Karbi Anglong and NC Hills, while creating new states for Kamatapur and Eastern Frontier Nagaland,” Terang said.

ASDC secretary, Jotson Bey in his speech strongly criticised former MP and CPI (ML) leader Dr. Jayanta Rongpi for not achieving the autonomous state during the 1986 autonomous state movement led by ASDC-CPI (ML).

Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) Chairman, Khorsing Teron said it is time that all stakeholders should work together in one platform and demand autonomous states.

In a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister, Amit Shah through DC, Karbi Anglong said that the Central government has adopted a policy to create 50 small states and out of which there is a policy to create two new states of Eastern Frontier Nagaland and Kamatapur.

The memorandum also says that a study team from the Central Home department led by AK Mishra, Senior Home Ministry Officer is camping in Nagaland to study the ground situation for the creation of the proposed new state.

‘But in the context of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and NC Hills article 244(A) which has already been inserted in the constitution in 1969, does not require such study. The process of re-organisation of Assam in 1969 an autonomous state should be created,’ added in the memorandum.