Statehood Demand of Karbi Anglong Under Jeopardy

When demand for creation of separate state for Bodos and the Koach Rajbonsi community of Assam is heading for a final showdown, the statehood demand of Karbi Anglong is gradually jeopardized due to polarization of stance among organizations demanding statehood comprising two autonomous hill districts of Assam.

Congress and its principal opposition in Karbi Anglong, Hills State Democratic Party has demanded complete separate state but other political parties like CPI(ML), Karbi Ser Hongthom, Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS), Karbi Anglong and NC Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee (KANCHDICOM) has demanded creation of Autonomous State under the constitutional provision made in Article 244(A).

Surprisingly when Karbi Anglong district congress committee and the congress ruled Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao autonomous Council have placed demand for creation of separate state before Prime Minister and UPA chairperson the fraternal organizations of congress like Youth Congress, NSUI, KSA (Inglong po), KRA, KANCHDICOM, KARSA have demanded implementation of Article 244(A).

Demand of separate statehood Hills State Democratic Party and promptly followed by district congress has confused the people in general. It has confused five congress MLA of Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong ( including HAD minister Khorsing Engti) and the lone MP of the autonomous districts Biren Sing Engti have neither signed in any memorandum of the district congress committee, demanding separate which has been placed before Prime Minister or UPA chairperson nor have raised the issue in forums like legislative assembly or Lok Sabha.

Playing a safe game the crossed fingered public leaders have placed forward the elected members of the two autonomous councils and the office bearers of district congress committee to deal with the issue officially instead involving the heavyweight leaders.

“Delegation of the elected members of both the autonomous councils will live for Delhi to peruse the issue of separate state; they will categorically meet the Home Minister and other relevant persons. Our discussion with Prime Minister and UPA chairperson on the issue is quite encouraging, the premier has assured us that he will scrutinize the matter with due importance,” Joy Ram Engleng, Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council said to the media at his residence today, after his return from Delhi.

A veteran CPI (ML) leader said anonymously that somersault of the district congress leaders from autonomous state demand to separate state, that too maintaining safe distance, is an election gimmick, congress cannot allow the HSDP to champion the issue that too when election is round the corner.

“They are still playing with the sentiment of the hill people who are spilling their blood for the cause; if not why the MLA and MP is keeping them self unapproachable officially?, he added.

Sushanta Roy is a journalist in Assam, India, who photographs and writes about the people, animals and flora of Assam, and the things that affect them.