Gogoi slams Assam government over erosion of autonomy in Sixth Schedule areas

DIPHU — During a two-day tour program in Karbi Anglong district, Gaurav Gogoi, President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, addressed a press meet at Diphu Circuit House on Saturday morning and raised serious concerns over the erosion of autonomy in the Sixth Schedule areas under the current Assam government.

Gogoi accused Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma of undermining the fundamental principles of the Sixth Schedule, which grants special autonomy to tribal regions, and violating the spirit of the Indian Constitution.

The APCC president kicked off his two-day tour programme in Karbi Anglong on July 4 from Deithor Mandal Congress Committee office, where he was welcomed and felicitated by party members and workers.

Also read: Students rally for disturbance-free education in Manipur’s valley districts

From Deithor, Gogoi visited all the Mandal Congress Committee (MCC) offices and Block Congress Committee (BCC) office at Bokajan and in the evening reached Dish. He stayed at Circuit House for the night.

Gogoi highlighted that during the 15-year tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, power was decentralised to empower local councils like the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAC), and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

However, he alleged that under the current regime, all decision-making powers are centralised in the hands of the chief minister.

“The councils are being run by remote control from Dispur, with the chief minister making unilateral decisions, sidelining the council chiefs,” the Congress leader alleged.

Gogoi also accused Chief Minister Sarma of acting like a “real estate broker” by allocating thousands of bighas of indigenous peoples’ land to corporate houses, severely undermining the rights and autonomy of Sixth Schedule areas.

Additionally, he pointed out to the unresolved border disputes with Meghalaya as another failure of the state government.

While travelling to Guwahati, Gogoi recorded a short video highlighting the controversial construction of a lavish residence for the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, likening it to the “Sheesh Mahal” controversy associated with a former Delhi chief minister.

Gogoi was accompanied by APCC Working President Rosleena Tirky, Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee President Bidya Sing Rongpi, and prominent party workers during his visit.