Our Correspondent
Diphu, Sep. 10 (EMN): The All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) on Friday carried out a protest rally against the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed by six arms organisations of Karbi Anglong with the state and Central governments in New Delhi on September 4.
The protesters rallied from Rongkhelan market along Diphu-Manja road to Semson Sing Ingti Memorial Park in Diphu, shouting slogans like “No autonomous state, no rest”, “long live Sixth Schedule” and “long live tribal unity”.
“The financial packet of INR 1500 crore is too limited. In the preamble of the peace accord, there is mention for Karbis only and other scheduled tribes like the Kukis, Dimasas, Garos, Khasi, Hmar, Thadou, Man (Tai Speaking) are not being mentioned,” said APHLC president JI Kathar.
“The Assam government has given a mini state for Barak valley, but not for Karbi Anglong. How we came to know that a mini secretariat has been created in Barak valley. It is very regrettable despite having Article 244(A) provision in the constitution, but the state has not granted to us,” Kathar added.
He said that the question of reservation didn’t not arise in the Sixth Schedule area as the land and resources in the scheduled tribes inhabited area were all reserved and clearly stated in the paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the constitution.
Describing the 100% reservation cut as “shameful”, Kathar stated that the Sixth Schedule is for the protection of tribal communities.
“The communities with large populations are found in other parts of the country and for them Sixth Schedule is not required for their protection. But the peace accord has given 10 seats open for all categories for their protection here in Karbi Anglong. It is very shameful for us. We need an Autonomous state as there is provision in the constitution,” Kathar said.