HT Bureau
DIPHU, Dec 17: In a landmark development for Karbi Anglong, a new All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) was formally launched on Tuesday in a meeting held at the Diphu government Boys Higher Secondary School.
This non-political organisation, though sharing the same name as the APHLC led by Jones Ingti Kathar, is an entirely different entity. Its primary goal is to create a common platform for political parties, NGOs, and social organisations to come together and raise a unified voice for the creation of an autonomous state for the hill districts of Assam.
Related Posts:
The event witnessed strong participation from political leaders, elected representatives, and members of various socio-cultural organisations, all united under the cause of autonomy. The newly formed APHLC is headed by James Hanse as president, Pitor Tisso as general secretary, and Augustin Kramsa as chief adviser. The launch was marked by the official release of the organisation’s registration certificate under the Society Registration Act, facilitated by Karbi traditional king Longsing Ronghang, who expressed his unwavering support for the new initiative.
Ronghang, in his speech, emphasised the need for such an organisation, saying that it could unite all political parties, social organisations, and communities within Karbi Anglong to advocate for the common cause of an autonomous state. “I have been looking for such an organisation, which can lead the people of Karbi Anglong by uniting all political parties, social organisations, NGOs, and all communities and tribes to raise a single voice for an autonomous state issue,” he said, further reiterating his full endorsement of the new APHLC.
The new APHLC’s leaders were quick to clarify that their objective is not to form a political party but to create a broad-based platform where political and non-political groups, including youth, women, and student organisations, can come together and work towards a common goal — the creation of an autonomous state for the Karbi Anglong region. Chief Adviser Augustin Kramsa, in his welcome address, made it clear that today’s meeting was not about forming a political entity but about building unity for a cause that transcends party lines.
General Secretary Pitor Tisso also addressed the gathering, drawing attention to the historical context of the original APHLC formed in 1960 by Captain Williamson Sangma, which successfully led to the creation of Meghalaya. He explained that the new APHLC would continue in the same spirit, bringing together various political and independent groups to support the hill state movement. “In the present context, JI Kathar’s APHLC has taken up the name, but it focuses on the Sixth Schedule for its political advantage. Our APHLC, however, is dedicated to a collective effort that includes political and non-political organisations, and it is aimed at spearheading the autonomous state movement,” Tisso said.
President James Hanse, in his address, reiterated the non-political nature of the organisation, emphasising that it was a platform for all those who believe in the cause of autonomy for Karbi Anglong. “Though we are a non-political organisation, we have the support of several political parties, including Congress, BJP, and others, as well as cultural and social organisations like the Hill People’s Cultural Forum (HPCF) and Karbi Anglong Rong Asar Amei (KARAA). This is a movement that seeks to bring together all sectors of society to fight for a common cause,” Hanse explained.
The APHLC’s leaders also made a bold commitment not to contest any elections, underscoring their dedication solely to the cause of an autonomous state. They outlined plans to focus on awareness-building campaigns and advocacy efforts with both the state and central governments to expedite the process of implementing Article 244(A) of the Indian Constitution. This article is crucial for providing the hill districts of Assam with greater autonomy, and the new APHLC aims to make it a priority issue.
In a significant move, the newly formed APHLC submitted a memorandum to the chief executive member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), urging the council to pass a resolution advocating for the implementation of Article 244(A). The memorandum also called for increased public awareness efforts to educate the masses on the importance of this constitutional provision for the region’s future.
The meeting was attended by several prominent dignitaries, including MLA Dorsing Ronghang, executive member of KAAC Surjya Rongphar, chairman of the Hill People’s Cultural Forum Laichan Engleng, and Roland Killing, president of the BJP East Karbi Anglong District Committee. The gathering also saw leaders from various other organisations come forward to express their solidarity with the cause.
The formation of this new APHLC marks a turning point in the movement for autonomy in Karbi Anglong. With strong backing from a broad coalition of political and social groups, the organisation aims to lead a united and determined push for an autonomous state, ensuring that the voice of Karbi Anglong is heard loud and clear at both the state and national levels.
