Civil organisations call for Karbi Anglong bandh on January 8

Our Correspondent Diphu, Jan.6 (EMN): Opposing the illegal Town committee election in Karbi Anglong and its illegal voter lists, more than 24 organisations have called for a 12-hour Karbi Anglong bandh on Jan. 8, from 5 am to 5 pm. However, emergency services will be exempted. A press release signed by the convenors Angtong Engti and Ratan Terang of the conglomeration of more than 24 organisations stated that Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang led Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) would be held responsible for this call and its outcome. The CEM, who claimed himself as the worshipper of ‘Work Culture’ and enemy of ‘Bandh Culture,’ is actually forcing the organisations to call for bandh by practising work culture but all against the spirit of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore against the Scheduled Tribe Hills people of Karbi Anglong, said the statement. “The people should know by now that so much unrest among the Hills Tribes is because of the ‘Anti-Scheduled Tribe Culture’ of the KAAC.” “It is very interesting to note on one hand and very painful on the other that the KAAC have always been fearless to take resolution against the Constitution of India while it never dares to do according to the powers conferred to them by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. This attitude of the KAAC is responsible for the delaying and exceeding the time frame of 6 months as per order of the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court to frame New Rules under Paragraph 2 (7) and Paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The elected members to the KAAC have dishonored themselves and the institution they are serving by disobeying the Order of the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court and by breaking the hopes and aspirations of the indigenous Hill Tribes people," read the statement. "Instead of obeying the court the KAAC has opted to add salt to the spreading wound of the Hill Tribes people by declaring the Town Committee election vide KAAC Notification No. KAAC/TCA/T.C ELN’ 2018/2017-18/2018-19/1286 without any protection of the Hill Tribes. It is indeed very shameful of the KAAC by not ruling Scheduled Tribe (Hills) certificate to be mandatorily produced by the intending candidate as well as the voters of the said election. We strongly condemn the KAAC Executive Committee for taking resolution against the spirit of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and reiterate the  CEM Tuliram Ronghang led KAAC to firstly frame new KAAC Rules and then conduct all elections other than the general elections within Karbi Anglong." The organisations also mentioned that that Mikir Hills District (Administration of Town Committee) Act 1954 and the Mikir Hills District (Constitution of Town Committee) Rules, 1958 were not enacted with the constitutional powers conferred by Clause (a) of Paragraph 2 Sub-Paragraph 7, Clause (e) of Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. It may be mentioned that Town Committee election will be held on Jan. 8 and the results will be declared on Jan. 10.