Karbi Anglong: JCCPA stages sit-in against MoS clause on reservation of seats

Our Correspondent

Diphu, Jan. 19 (EMN): 2021 Joint Coordination Committee for Protection of Autonomy (JCCPA) organised sit in at Semon Sing Ingti Memorial Park on Tuesday opposing clause 2.3 of the MoS, which was signed by six armed organisations of Karbi Anglong on September 4, 2021 between the State and Central government.

Clause 2.3 says that out of 50 seats members of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), 34 seats will be reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, 10 seats open for all categories and six for nominated candidates.

JCCPA, Convenor, Khorsing Teron said the JCCPA is not against the signing of the MoS, but certain clauses, which were going against the interest of people from the Schedule tribes.

Teron said, “We are holding a protest demonstration not because of the MoS, but certain clauses which are contentious. We are particularly opposing Clause 2.3 as it is a political conspiracy by the State and Central government to finish the political autonomy already provided to the KAAC. We are opposing and we will be opposing until and unless it is withdrawn.”

He also said, “We are not against the MoS and its entirety, but we are against some of the contentious clauses like 2.1; 2.3; 2.9 and 2.11. It is our demand to the KAAC authority to convene a joint political meeting involving all parties, social and student organisations to find an acceptable solution on the contentious clauses.”

He also said the final and comprehensive solution is not the MoS, 2021, but the creation of an Autonomous State as provided in Article 244 (A) of the Indian constitution for the hill districts of Assam.    President, ASDC and convenor, JCCPA, Chandra Kanta Terang said that ‘there is nothing to say on the economic part, but the concern is on constitutional and administrative changes’.

‘In the earlier MoU agreement, 1995 and the MoS agreement 2011, there was surrender of powers. But the MoS 2021 agreement has some constitutional changes which are a threat to indigenous people’, Terang said.

He also opposed Clause 2.3 of the MoS stating that the 10 seats cannot easily be made open for all categories, as it gives space to the non-Schedule Tribe candidates to contest in the KAAC election.

It may be mentioned that JCCPA is a conglomeration of various political parties, students and women organisation such as Autonomous State Demand Committee, 24+organisations, Hills Tribal League, Convening Committee for Unification, Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong, two factions of KSA and Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS). It was formed on December 6, 2021 at United Karbi Club, Volongkom Aji (Bokolia).