Our Correspondent
Diphu, Feb.18 (EMN): The BJP ST Morcha and BJYM of Karbi Anglong District Committee on Friday lodged an FIR with the Diphu Police Station against the president of All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC), J I Kathar, for allegedly comparing the elected members of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to “monkeys”.
The members of BJP-ST Morcha and BJYM took to the streets of Diphu town to protest the alleged statement made by Kathar and burned his effigy. They also demanded a public apology from him.
The president of APHLC had on Thursday told journalists that government quarters being allotted to members of autonomous councils by KAAC have been used for “illicit activities”.
The state secretary of BJP ST Morcha, Longsing Tokbi, said that ‘the president of APHLC, had compared our CEM, EMs and all elected representatives to monkeys. We cannot tolerate. To condemn his remark his effigy has been burned’.
The ST Morcha, BJYM and other Morchas will gherao the office of APHLC and residence of Kathar, Tokbi stated.
Earlier in the day, president of BJYM, Karbi Anglong District Committee Jiten Bey had said at a press conference that Kathar had no moral right to compare the elected representations of the people to monkeys and should tender a public apology.
On APHLC’s demand that KAAC election should be conducted by HAD department and not by State Election Commission, Bey said it is done as per the provision given in Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. He added that the governor, being the guardian of the Sixth Schedule should decide whether to conduct the election by the DC or by the State Election Commission.
He went on to claim that the APHLC is creating issues ahead of KAAC election in order to divert the public attention.