HT Bureau
DIPHU, Dec 14: The All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) and the BJP party of East Karbi Anglong District Committee exchanged words at the proposed mega gathering on December 17 at Diphu govt boys HS school playground.
The gathering was being organised under the ‘APHLC committee’ as the APHLC president, Jones Ingti Kathar pointed out that it is the conspiracy of RSS and BJP to weaken the APHLC.
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At the same time, the BJP – East Karbi Anglong District Committee (EKADC) say it has nothing to do with the internal conflict of the APHLC.
In a press conference convened by APHLC here on Saturday, the party president Kathar said, “APHLC means a unity of all tribes. Seeing the unity of the tribal people under the APHLC umbrella, the RSS and Bongosena were jealous and directed the BJP to organise a rally inviting all communities, tribes, political parties, NGOs, including KAAC officials to join in the meeting. The BJP and RSS have conspired to divide the APHLC.”
Kathar further alleged that BJP has sanctioned Rs 15 lakhs funded by the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang for organising the meeting.
Soon after the APHLC press conference the BJP – EKADC countered the statement of Kathar in a press conference at the BJP – EKAD office here, where one of the party spokespersons Laichan Engleng said the BJP is not concerned about the internal clash of the APHLC. “They should not unnecessarily take the name of the BJP,” he stated.
Dismissing Kathar’s statement as illogical and baseless, Engleng said, “In the name of the autonomous state and sixth scheduled, Kathar has created confusion in the minds of the people.”
“BJP has nothing to say about the internal conflict of the APHLC. Whether there is an A or B team or duplicate APHLC that is not our concern. We still don’t know which APHLC group has called the meeting,” Engleng said.
Another BJP spokesperson Chomang Kro said it is Kathar himself who has conspired to call the December 17 meeting. In order to hide his misdeeds Kathar has put the blame on RSS and BJP, he alleged.
In the invitation letter to the president, BJP – EKADC by the APHLC committee organising the rally reads, “It is with great honour and respect that we extend this invitation to you to attend the official launch ceremony of APHLC. This significant occasion marks the revival of a non-political platform dedicated to advocating for the rights, identity, and aspirations of the hill tribes of Karbi Anglong.”
The letter also mentioned that the APHLC committee was formally constituted on December 6, 2024, which aspires to unify various political parties, social organisations, and community representatives in the collective effort to advocate for the implementation of Article 244 (A) of the Indian constitution and the establishment of a separate state for the hill tribes. The letter is signed by the president, APHLC without mentioning the person’s name holding the post of president.
