HT Bureau
DIPHU, July 25: There have been differences of opinion within political parties in the hill districts of Karbi Anglong regarding Article 280 of the Indian Constitution and the funding pattern of the Central government to the state governments. The present Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) authority wants direct funding from the central government to KAAC from the 125th constitutional amendment.
All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) is opposed to Article 280 as it does not concern the funding system for the sixth scheduled autonomous council of Karbi Anglong.
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The APHLC president, JI Kathar, in a press conference held here at his residence, has explained what Articles 280, 275, 2, and 3 of the Indian Constitution are.
He said, “Articles 2 and 3 speak about the creation of separate states, while Article 280 says that funds from the finance commission of the central government will be allotted to the state government for panchayati, municipalities, and town committees. There is no word used for ‘direct funding’. Article 280 does not speak about direct funding to sixth scheduled areas. While Article 270 says that through India’s consolidated funds, money will be allotted by the central government to autonomous states. Here there is mention of an autonomous state and a sixth schedule.”
During the Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) talks with the central government, the matter of direct funding was raised, but the central government rejected the demand, Kathar mentioned.
“What we want to say here is that the KAAC is demanding Article 280 provision and not 275 in the 125th constitutional amendment. Why is the government giving more importance to Article 280, as there is no mention of an autonomous state? The government is giving more priority to Article 280 so that people forget about the autonomous state. After reaching New Delhi, the KAAC delegation forgot the autonomous state issue, giving more stress on Article 280,” Kathar alleged.
He also said that by accepting Article 280 for funds allocation, the present KAAC will be on par with that of Panchayati Raj.
Kathar said, “The present KAAC is under the sixth scheduled provision, but by accepting Article 280, it will be reduced to the level of Panchayati. In order to raise the standard of KAAC, we are demanding an autonomous state. What we want to appeal to the KAAC authority is to not accept Article 280 of the 125th constitutional amendment but instead to go for an autonomous state.”
