HT Bureau
DIPHU, May 2: The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) said that the Autonomous State issue is just an election tool for the BJP and this has been clearly indicated during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 28 at Loringthepi in Karbi Anglong district.
President of the ASDC, Chandra Kanta Terang in a press conference at the ASDC Central Committee office here on Monday said, “On April 11, prior to the Prime Minister’s visit the ASDC had submitted a letter to DC, IAS, Dibakar Nath requesting time to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister on Autonomous State issue. There was no response from the DC’s office. One day ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, we met the principal secretary, ACS, Mukul Kumar Saikia. As there was no response from both the DC and principal secretary’s office, we then went to meet the chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang. The CEM has taken our words positively and assured us that he will arrange to meet the Prime Minister. Our request has been rejected, the Karbi Anglong NC Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee (KAANCHASDCOM) also did not get the chance to meet the Prime Minister.”
Terang said that from 2014 to date, the BJP has been misleading the people and now it has no moral rights or policy for Autonomous State. The BJP’s stand on the Autonomous State issue has been clear and it is only for winning elections.
General secretary of ASDC, Jotson Bey, criticising the Prime Minister, said the Prime Minister should have his sense of responsibility. The Prime Minister is the executive head of the country and should give time to meet the people. The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani, who were also BJP leaders, had time to meet the people. Modi has refrained from meeting leaders from other political parties and organisations, he alleged.
