HT Bureau
DIPHU, June 8: A warm welcome and felicitation ceremony was organised in honour of Member of Parliament (MP) Amarsing Tisso, a former member of the Karbi Students Association (KSA), at the KSA Central Executive Committee (KSA-CEC) office in Rongtheang on Sunday.
The event was attended by Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang, as the chief guest.
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MP Tisso previously served as the president of the KSA-CEC from 1988 to 1989 and as general secretary from 1993 to 1994. He played an active role in the autonomous state movement led by the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee (KANCHASDCOM), now renamed as the Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao Autonomous State Demand Committee (KADHASDCOM).
The felicitation ceremony was jointly organised by the KSA-CEC and KADHASDCOM. Tisso was honoured as a former KSA leader who rose to become an MP and raised the issue of the autonomous state in Parliament.
The programme was held under the theme, ‘Immediate Implementation of Article 244(A) of the Indian Constitution’.
In his address, MP Tisso reflected on his involvement in the KSA-Inglongpho (a KSA faction) and his participation in the autonomous state movement. He credited former KSA leaders like Pratap Chandra Tokbi, Gandhiram Timung, and others for founding the organisation to support the Karbi community and promote education.
“Between 1988 and 1989, and again between 1993 and 1994, I served as the president and general secretary of the KSA-CEC respectively. As an active member, I worked for the upliftment of the Karbi community and rural education. I also actively participated in the autonomous state movement,” he said.
Tisso assured that he would continue advocating for the autonomous state in Parliament. He urged the KSA to persist in working for the welfare of the Karbi community and its students.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, CEM Ronghang said that the most pressing need of the people is the granting of an autonomous state. He recalled the turbulent history of the autonomous state movement under the ASDC, which included violence, boycotts, arson, and loss of lives.
He appealed for unity, emphasising that such unrest must not be repeated.
“If we are united, there is no question that we cannot achieve our goal — the autonomous state,” he stated.
The CEM added that with the help of MP Tisso, a meeting could be arranged with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue, and a memorandum could be submitted in support of the demand.
Later, the CEM commended Tisso for raising the autonomous state issue in Parliament and expressed hope that he would continue doing so.
“Under his leadership, the KAAC would continue working to protect inter-district and inter-state borders, promote development, and create employment opportunities for local youth,” Ronghang added.
On the occasion, the KSA-CEC submitted a memorandum to the CEM, requesting exemption from land acquisition in front of the KSA office in Rongtheang for the proposed road extension from Diphu town to Birla. They also requested renovation of the KSA-CEC office building, which has deteriorated and suffers from water leakage. The memorandum was submitted and read out by KSA-CEC general secretary, Barnabas Killing.
KSA-CEC president Budho Terang presided over the ceremony.
The event was also attended by Karbi Anglong district commissioner Nirola Phangchopi, MLAs Bidyasing Engleng and Dorsing Ronghang, KADHASDCOM president Ajit Timung, general secretary Sing Timung, and leaders of KSA, Karbi Adorbar, Karbi So-arlo Amei (KARSA), among other social organisations.
