Diphu, June 21 (EMN): The Karbi Students Association (KSA), Rengma Naga Students Union (RNSU), Karbi Students and Youth Council (KSYC) All India Karbi Students Union (AIKSU), Hills Tribal Leaque (HTL), All India Karbi National Assembly (AIKNA) held a press conference today in protest of the state government’s move to impose Assamese language in schools from Class-I to Class-X in the hills district of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasoa District.
During a press conference, the organizations stated that, the Sixth Schedule area of India Constitution cannot be interfered by State Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswas alone.
The organisation will stand firm and will go on forwards with our Dimand, interfering in the Sixth Schedule area by the State government is undemocratic by imposing languages. The state government has to face the consequences if our demand is not fulfil, added the organisation leaders in the press conference.
The organisations also opposed the new seat reservation system introduced by State Government, while admission to Diphu Govt. College for ST (Hills) communities in Karbi Anglong. They demanded that the new seat reservation system should be revoke and the earlier system of 60 percent should continue added the organisations.
In a press conference held at Karbi Lammet Amei office on Wednesday, RNSU president Phenpiga H Rengma said that the team comprising of leaders of students, youth and social bodies met the Principal of Diphu Govt. College Dr. Nirab Kr. Sharma here today and requested that the earlier 60 percent seat reservation to ST communities in admission to Diphu Govt. College for 2017-18 academic session should be continued.
Rengma said: “Since after few years back the Diphu Govt. College was the only centre for higher education and since inception of the college, the ST has been getting 60 percent seat reservation during admission to the college.
But this year the State government has come up with a new seat reservation policy by reducing from 60 percent to 22 percent only combining the ST, ST and SC communities for admission.”
“We repeatedly requested the Principal to go on with the 60 percent reservation to ST, but did not agree to it. The college is set-up in the 6th schedule district for the benefit of ST students and it should have been 100 percent. We want that the College go with the 60 percent reservation to ST students and will continue to demand for it,” Rengma said.
On the move by State government to introduce Assamese language and compulsory subject upto Class-X, KSA-Inglongpho vice president Mirjeng Kro said the hill tribe communities of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao are not against the Assamese language, but cannot be introduced here.
Kro said: “ Dr. Himanta cannot dictate the people of Karbi Anglong as he is trying to impose Assamese language in the hill districts. We are not against Assamese language, but he cannot introduce Assamese language according to his will.”
He also said there should be an option for Assamese. Kro said Dr. Sharma is going ahead with the imposition of Assamese language in the hill districts then strong agitation will be initiated by the organisations.
