Guwahati, April 29: A conglomeration of Karbi organisations today attributed the birth of militancy in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts to prolonged government indifference towards the demand for an autonomous state.
The Karbi Anglong North Cachar Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee, Karbi Students’ Association, Karbi So-Arlo Amei (Karbi Women’s Organisation), Karbi Lamet Amei (Karbi Sahitya Sabha) and the Karbi Riso Adorbar have moved the Centre and Dispur with their demand for the creation of an autonomous state comprising the two hill districts under Article 244 (A) of the Constitution to usher in peace and development.
The president of the Karbi Anglong North Cachar Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee, Ajit Timung, today alleged that government’s indifference towards the demand for creation of an autonomous state for the last 38 years was the primary reason for the prevailing unrest in the twin hill districts.
“It is because of the government’s reluctance to fulfil the demand that extremism and other problems, including ethnic tension, reared their ugly heads in the once-peaceful region,” Timung said.
He said they had organised a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 23, seeking the creation of an autonomous state and submitted memoranda to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, law minister M. Veerappa Moily and home minister P. Chidambaram.
These organisations also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday, highlighting their demand.
“We do not see any problem for the government in conceding to our demand as we are not for any further division of Assam. What we want is a state within the state,” Timung said.
He also maintained that devolution of more powers and allocation of more funds would solve the problems faced by the people and ensure speedy development of the twin districts.
“Till our demand is fulfilled, we will continue our mass movement,” Timung said.
Last month, Dispur decided to constitute a ministerial committee to review the demand of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) for creation of an autonomous state in Karbi Anglong. The outfit is active in Karbi Anglong district.
