HT Bureau
DIPHU, April 8: A joint sit-in-demonstration was organised by Karbi Anglong & North Cachar Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee (KAANCHASDCOM), Karbi Students Association (KSA), Karbi Riso Adorbar (KRA), Karbi So-arlo Amei (KARSA), Dimasa Students Union (DSU) and Karbi Unemployed Youth Association (KUYA) demanding implementation of Article 244 (A) of the Indian constitution for granting of Autonomous State comprising the three hill districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and NC Hills, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on Friday.
More than 200 from Karbi Anglong and NC Hills participated in the demonstration.
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The demonstration started from 10 am in the morning and ended in the evening at 3 pm. There were also members of communities like Gorkha, Hrangchal and other non-tribal communities.
MP Horensing Bey who was in New Delhi attending the budget session in Parliament, met with organisation leaders at the demonstration.
Addressing the gathering the MP said “On April 6 I have personally met with the speaker of Lok Sabha and gave him in writing to give me time to speak during zero hour on Article 244 (A). Though I prepared well to speak during zero hour, but did not get the chance. It was unfortunate for me. I will take up the same issue in the next Parliament session in July. I have missed this chance this time, but in the next session in July I will take up the issue. If there is no response as an MP I am prepared to take up a higher level of agitation. In the next session I will also place the private member bill on the Autonomous State issue.”
He lauded the leadership of president, KAANCHASDCOM Ajit Timung and said, “Our struggle for Autonomous State should not be ended and go on demanding until it is fulfilled. There are many organisations in Karbi Anglong taking up the Autonomous State issue. They first took up the movement, but in later courses ended up in electoral politics. From 1986 the leader who has stuck on to the Autonomous State movement is a leader like Ajit Timung. Leader should be like him with self dedication and having a clear vision to lead the movement. True leader is someone who does not leave the movement.”
The MP also said the KAANCHASDCOM leaders never seek tickets from any national political party to contest in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) or contested as an independent. They have firmly stuck on to their demand which is true sacrifice and dedication for the people.
“Having full faith on the leadership of Timung and our demand may not be fulfilled now. We have high hope that if we continue to pressurise to the Central government it will surely be granted to us as there is a provision in the constitution.”
The MP said whichever party he belongs to does not matter. Any leader either from Karbi or Dimasa community becoming an MP should not comprise the Autonomous State issue. Movement leaders should not be disheartened and learn from Telengana that has attained statehood after 30 to 40 years of movement.
President, KAANCHASDCOM Ajit Timung said, “Our demand for Autonomous State is very much constitutional for development and protection of language, culture and tradition of various tribal and non-tribal living in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills. We cannot protect our land, culture, language and tradition without the implementation of Article 244 (A) of the constitution.”
He also said several national BJP leaders like LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Niten Gadkari and Amit Shah have visited Karbi Anglong and assured that if the BJP comes to power Article 244 (A) will be implemented, but they have not kept their words. He urged the Prime Minister to implement Article 244 (A) during his tenure for the development of the hill districts of Assam.
A memorandum addressed to Prime Minister and Union Home minister, Amit Shah was submitted.
