Dimapur, April 27 (EMN): Laskar Committee, in its report submitted to All India Congress Committee (AICC), recommended greater representation of Christians belonging to the NE region in the Minority Department.
Laskar Committee has recommended appointing Christians as chairman of minority department in the respective states of the Northeast including Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram PCC, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and Udalguri districts of Assam; Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Chandel districts of Manipur; and East Kameng, Papum Pare, Tirap, and Kurung Kumey districts of Arunachal Pradesh
It may be mentioned here that Chairman of the Minority Department of All India Congress Committee had, vide Letter dated 28 September 2016, entrusted Congress ideologue from Assam Rejaul Karim Laskar to develop a strategy for attracting religious minorities (Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, etc) towards the Congress party after visiting all the eight states of the region and holding interactions with Congress chief ministers, Congress Legislature Party leaders, State Congress presidents, other senior leaders of the Congress party, and other prominent persons of the region. Laskar, who is former spokesperson of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and former Secretary of AICC Vichar Vibhag, is also a prominent author and scholar.
After, touring five states of the region and holding interactions with a number of prominent persons of the region including the chief ministers of Meghalaya, Mizoram, and PCC presidents of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, Laskar finally submitted his report to the AICC on April 27.
Laskar submitted the 148 page report along with two annexures to the Chairman of the Minority Department of the All India Congress Committee at the AICC Office in 24 Akbar Road, New Delhi.
The main part of the report consisted of seven chapters. The chapter seven of the report contained recommendations. Some of the important recommendations of Laskar report included creation of a ‘North East Congress Minority Coordination Committee (NECMCC), creation of a ‘North East Advisory Committee (NEAC), creation of a ‘Vigilance Committee’ in the Minority Department of each PCCs of the region, creation of a ‘Legal Aid Committee’ in the Minority Departments at the state and district levels in all the states of North East.
It also recommended proper representation to persons belonging to Dony-Polo of Arunachal Pradesh, Sanamahi of Manipur, and Niam Khasi/ Niamtre of Meghalaya religion in the Congress party’s Minority Department.
Besides, it recommended appointing persons belonging to Buddhist community as chairperson of the Minority Department of Tawang, West Kameng, and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh; all the districts of Sikkim; Lawngtlai district of Mizoram; and South Tripura district. It also recommended appointing persons belonging to Dony-Polo community as chairperson of the Minority Department of Upper Subansiri, Lower Subansiri, West Siang, East Siang, Upper Siang, and Dibang Valley Districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
Further, the committee has recommended holding of an “Annual North East Dialogue” by the AICC Minority Department.
