Govt officials meets Karbi Anglong agitating organisations

Diphu, May 5 (EMN): L. Sweety Changsan, Commissioner & Secretary, Govt. of Assam incharge Home, Political, Passport, Border Areas Development and Information & Public Relation on her visit today has appealed to the agitating 25 organisations demanding for separate electoral roll of KAAC for conduct of its election, not to repeat the same incident of April 21 and to go by a peaceful democratic means in redressing their various problems. Changsan accompanied by Pallab Bhattacharyya, Addl. Director General of Police (ADGP) Special Branch; Mukesh Agarwal, ADGP, law & order and B P Rabha, DIG, Central Range had come to Diphu today to get the ground reality of the situations taking place in the aftermath of the April 21 incident, where the activists of 25 organisations demanding for separate electoral roll to the KAAC. On her visit here, Changsan held a meeting with the representatives of the 25 organisations, what their grievances and demands were. During the discussion hour she informed that the CM Sarbananda Sonowal is very much concern about the situation over here and has directed the team to know the ground reality. “I appealed to the organisations that the same incident is not to be repeated in the near future and express the demand in a peaceful democratic manner as a conducive atmosphere should be there to discuss any issues and problems,” the Commissioner & Secretary said. She further said, the Central government is trying to address the issues and problems of the country. But India being a country of mixed community of language, culture, creed and religion there are problems at times, which need to be patient. The 6th schedule district of Karbi Anglong itself is like a mini India itself with so many tribes and non tribes, language, culture and religion, but has been living peaceful among all tribes and communities. I also belong to these two 6th schedule districts of Assam and personally I have been watching the development taking place. The district being a 6th schedule district and governance and other things have been decentralized to the Autonomous Council here, she added Changsan expressed that there may be some communication gap between the State government and Council over here. But the State government is contemplating in addressing the issue and it is for this reason the team from State government has come here today. On the demand for separate electoral roll, Changsan said schedule tribe people needs to introspect about the implementation of the 6th schedule in this district as it has been in exercising for over the years now. She also expressed that a constitutional expert should be involved to study about the validity of the demands of the organisations and the claims of the KAAC. All things cannot be done at a time and until a new acts and rules are framed according to the 6th schedule provision and let the existing rules be allowed to continue. Let the election procession be started to have a new elected body to discuss all issues pertaining to the implementation of the 6th schedule to the constitution in Karbi Anglong. The State Election Commission by studying the present situation will announce the conduct of the election, she said. JI Kathar, adviser, Sixth Schedule Implementation Committee, said due to defect of the KAAC electoral roll, it has allowed the outsiders to encroach upon the land of tribal people. He informed the visiting State team about the continuous effort made by the organisations to the KAAC in making the electoral roll. Kathar mentioned that a PIL was filed in Guwahati High Court regarding the conduct of KAAC election. But the KAAC authority, State government and the State Election Commission has nothing to reply to the Chief Justice on the procession of the conduct of the election. Kathar said that, acts and rules should be framed and separate electoral roll for conduct of the KAAC election is made as per Para 2 sub-para 7 of the Sixth schedule to the constitution. Phenpiga H. Rengma, president, Rengma Naga Students Union (RNSU) said the KAAC should also convene an immediate Executive Committee meeting to discuss on the matter and allow the organisation leaders to meet the Chief Minister and Governor to sit for discussion. T. Touthang, president, Kuki National Assembly said it is not a political issue, but a human problem for fighting for the survival of tribal communities. “Our stand is very clear that the Council election should be for schedule tribe people. We are not against any community as we are only fighting for our rights. Other non schedule communities have also their voting rights in Assembly and Parliamentary elections and as the KAAC of Karbi Anglong as per 6th schedule provision is only reserved for schedule tribes of the hill people and should only be for them.” He blamed the CEM, KAAC Tuliram Ronghang for not taking serious enough to discuss the matters raised by the organisations in the meeting on May 3 at KAAC.