HT Bureau
DIPHU, Feb 5: A gruelling five-day “long walk” advocating for the creation of an autonomous state reached its destination on Thursday.
Organised by the ASDC Youth Front (ASDC YF) and the KSA (Jemson Timung group), the march concluded at the ASDC central committee office in Diphu after covering over 100 kilometres from Parokhuwa.
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The movement aims to pressure the Union Government into initiating tripartite talks involving the Ministry of Home Affairs and all legitimate stakeholders of the region.
The marchers kicked off their journey on February 5, facing significant physical and logistical hurdles. Notably, the protesters were forced to navigate village routes after police restricted their use of the National Highway.
Despite these challenges, the group maintained discipline as they passed through Dokmoka, Phuloni, Bokolia, Silbheta, Longnit, and Manja Town.
“The members endured pain and obstacles, even putting their lives at risk, to ensure the aspirations of Karbi Anglong are heard,” stated leaders during the final leg of the march.
Addressing media persons at the ASDC Central Committee office, Gulson Bey, president of the ASDC Youth Front, accused both the BJP and Congress of betraying the trust of the people in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao for over 15 years.
Criticising the ruling dispensation, ASDC YF accused the BJP of misleading the public by claiming talks are already underway in New Delhi while allegedly excluding major stakeholders. The Congress Party was criticized for failing to raise the Autonomous State issue in Parliament and the State Assembly despite having 99 MPs and 22 MLAs, respectively.
The core demand of the protesters is a tripartite talk that moves beyond “one or two parties.”
The ASDC YF and KSA insist that the Home Ministry must invite a broad spectrum of social and political organisations, including the participating organisations ASDC, ASDC Youth Front, KNCA, KADHASDCOM, Student Groups, Various factions of the KSA, Cultural & Social, Karbi Lammet Amei (KLA), and Karbi Cultural Society (KCS).
Bey suggested that the Central Government should organise a consultative meeting where these stakeholders can collectively shortlist a delegation to represent the people of Karbi Anglong in New Delhi.
The march may have ended, but the organisers emphasised that the democratic movement is far from over. Leaders Premson Bey, Gulson Bey, Jemson Timung, and Mandal Enghi affirmed that protests will continue until a positive response is received from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
