HT Bureau
DIPHU, May 16: The third executive committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Scheduled Tribes (ST) Morcha, BJP EKADC, was held at Sarsing Teron (Langkung Habe) Memorial Town Hall, here in Matipung. In the meeting, the formation of booth- and mandal-level ST Morcha committees to strengthen the organisation in Karbi Anglong was discussed.
Addressing the BJP frontal organisation workers, the Chief Executive Member (CEM), Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang said, “If the ST Morcha is strong, then only the BJP can be strong. With Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at the Centre and chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma in the state, the problems of the STs will be solved.”
He further said, “After the BJP came to power in Karbi Anglong, NC Hills, and BTAD, peace prevailed. The BJP government at the centre has brought all militant groups together and signed a peace agreement with them. Now there is no misunderstanding, conflict, or insecurity. We are going to make a new Karbi Anglong, and for that, the support of ST Morcha is needed.”
He also said that for development in Karbi Anglong, Narendra Modi should be voted back to power for a straight third term in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election. Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, projects worth more than Rs. 2,500 crore will be inaugurated in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, he informed.
Criticising the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) for spreading falsehood through their propaganda against the government, he said, “If the APHLC does not have a single elected representative, then how will they provide development to people?” It is the government that is going to provide welfare schemes to people, not any other party.”
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Numal Momin, said that some people are making allegations that ST belonging to the Christian community will be deprived of their privileges, which is totally false.
The deputy speaker, who is a Christian MLA from Bokajan in the present BJP government in Assam, said, “There was a rumour that Christians’ ST will be abolished. But that is not true. Anything that is already in the constitution needs amendment. Until and unless there is legislation, the ST benefit of the Christian community can’t be curtailed. Modi treats everyone equally, be they Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or Jain”.
Numal also said the BJP government in Assam has taken up a lot of developmental work in ST-dominated areas of Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and BTAD.
The meeting was also attended by MP Horensing Bey, the president of the Bharatiya Janata ST Morcha, the Assam State Committee, Shivnath Brahma, the vice president, Bhakar Deori, a member of the Autonomous Council, Tiluttoma Hasnu, and others.
