Karbi peace accord garners mixed reaction; one arrested amidst protest

Our Correspondent
Diphu, Sep. 6 (EMN): The president of Karbi Farmers Association (KFA), Avinash Ronghang was arrested by Diphu police on Monday afternoon. He was one of the members of 24+ social organisations, who took to the street to protest on August 5 by burning tyres and shouting slogans to oppose the insertion of 10 seats open for all communities regarding election to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

 Ronghang was booked at Diphu Police Station under case No. 254/2021u/s 188/149/336/353/341/506 IPC.

He was later taken to judicial custody to Diphu district jail. While being taken to judicial custody Ronghang said, “I am fighting for the cause of Karbi longri (Karbi land) and just because I have called for a press conference to express my concern I am being arrested. Democracy was destroyed not by me, but by Tuliram Ronghang (CEM of KAAC) and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. They have to take responsibility for the chaos in Karbi Anglong”.

On the other hand, President of All Party Hills Leaders Conference, JI Kathar was detained at Diphu Police Station for several hours on Monday for recording a statement against case no. 254/21 U/S141/143/336/341/ 353/506/188 IPC, R/W Section 4 of PDPP Act. He was later released.

Meanwhile, the signatories of the six-armed organisations of Karbi Anglong, who inked the Karbi peace accord, were welcomed at Parokhuwa.

Rijak Dera, Publicity secretary, Karbi Longri and NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) said the people of Karbi Anglong have accepted the peace accord, which is intended for all round development. He also said the state and Central government has assured that each point mentioned in the peace accord will be implemented.

Dera said, “Some people without properly understanding the peace accord are opposing the insertion of 10 seats open for all category. The people of Karbi Anglong have accepted the peace accord. Those opposing the peace accord are ones who do not want peace in Karbi Anglong and are only thinking for their own political gain. The people of Karbi Anglong and those Karbis living in the plain districts of Assam will also benefit from the peace accord”.

He also said that Article 244(A) of the India constitution for granting of Autonomous State comprising the three hill districts of Assam is clearly mentioned in the preamble of the peace accord. The public should not be confused. It is a long-standing demand.

Under Article 280, the consolidated funds for development of the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong from state and Central governments will be sanctioned. It can be either through NITI Aayog, DoNER ministry or NEC will be sanctioned to the KAAC, he stated.

The KLNLF publicity secretary also said, “In our peace accord, we have got 70 percent of what we demanded. Some of the points that are left out will be taken up with the Central government in the coming days. As of now, the population of Karbi Anglong is not that big and INR 1000 crore economic package can take up various development schemes and a rehabilitation package for cadres has been made.