ASDC demands exclusion of three hill districts from UCC

DIPHU — The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), a registered regional political party of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts in Assam, has demanded the central government to keep the above three hill districts in Assam from the purview of the proposed bill on Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

This was stated by Daniel Teron, ASDC publicity secretary, during a press conference held at ASDC central committee office here Monday. He informed that a memorandum to this effect has been submitted to Union home minister, Amit Shah, through the deputy commissioner of Karbi Anglong.

Teron stated that Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong were originally independent states since time immemorial, which was then ruled by traditional chiefs known as Lindokpos, Pinpos and Habes before the invasion of the British in 1938. He added that the three hill districts of Assam namely Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts were inhabited by hill tribes like Karbis, Dimasas, Jeme Naga, Hmar, Tisa, Baite, Rengma Naga, Kuki and Sangkichep, who have their own distinct culture, social practices, customary laws, language and customs.

He further stated that those areas were declared as a backward tract in 1919 along with other hill areas of the Nagas, Mizos, Khasis, Jaintia and Garos. Additionally, as per the government act of 1935, he stated that Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao areas were declared as partially excluded during the British era.

Basing on the historical fact, ASDC has demanded that Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong as well as Dima Hasao area should be kept out of the purview of the proposed bill on UCC and be incorporated in the constitution in line with Article 371A and 371G for the hill tribe people in Assam.