Congress leaders from Assam urged to pursue amendment of Sixth Schedule in Parliament

DIPHU — President of West Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee (WKADCC), Sing Teron, on Monday said that a delegation comprising Congress members of West Karbi Anglong, East Karbi Anglong and NC Hills had met with the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Gaurav Gogoi and Congress MPs from Assam — Rockybul Hussain and Pradyut Bordoloi — at Constitutional Club in New Delhi on August 2, and submitted a memorandum.

The delegation had requested the leaders to pursue the amendment of the Sixth Schedule in the Parliament, for empowering two autonomous councils of Karbi Anglong (KAAC) and NC Hills with more powers, he said at a press conference called after returning from New Delhi, at the office of Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee (KADCC).

‘We have informed Gogoi and two Congress MPs that the Sixth Schedule amendment will be taken up in the 125th constitutional amendment in respect to the two Autonomous Councils of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills. There will be a new instruction after the amendment of the Sixth Schedule and funding to the Autonomous Councils, TVDC, Municipalities and Town Committees (TC) will come from Article 280 (3) (C ).

‘We are demanding that through Article 280 (3) (C ) of the consolidated funds of the State Government that will be supplemented to the Municipalities TVDC, Municipalities and TCs for developmental purposes, should reach directly to the Autonomous councils. The autonomous councils will then distribute the allotted funds to these institutions. Also, the preparation of voter lists and conduct of elections of TVDC, Municipalities and TCs should come under the Autonomous Councils,’ said Teron.

He also said Gogoi and two other Congress MPs had shown their willingness to speak about Article 244(A) of the Indian constitution in the Parliament.