ASDC wants PM to make declaration on Karbi Anglong autonomous state

Our Correspondent

Dimapur, April 26 (EMN): The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) wants the Prime Minister on his visit to make a declaration on autonomous state to respect and honour the commitment given by BJP on multiple occasions.

In a press conference convened at ASDC central committee office on Monday, the party president Chandra Kanta Terang said, “The  Prime Minister is very much aware about the constitutional provision enshrined in the constitution under Article 244(A) to create an Autonomous State for Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao since 1969, but we have missed the bus during the creation of Meghalaya and also during the re-organisation of Northeast India in 1971 because we were betrayed by Assam government and also by the treacherous act of All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) leaders. Karbi leaders like Bapuram Singnar, Barelong Terang and others were never taken into confidence by APHLC leaders. By the time our leaders knew that we were kept at the option level, it was already too late as the bill for creation of an Autonomous State for Meghalaya was already passed in Parliament.”

Terang also said that during an election meeting in 2009 at Kheroni in West Karbi Anglong, the then Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani spoke about Autonomous State, and on June 7, 2014 in an election meeting at Dokmoka, the then national BJP president, Rajnath Singh promised to take up Autonomous Sate issue if BJP is voted to power.

‘Even in the election manifesto of BJP for the bye-election to Baithalangso LA in 2016 and in the 2017 Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) election, it was also promised to make Autonomous State a reality. Again in the 2019 Parliamentary election the BJP manifesto also promised to leave no stone unturned to implement Article 244(A),’ Terang further stated.     

Local holiday in Dibrugarh, Karbi Anglong on April 28

The Governor of Assam, Jagdish Mukhi has declared April 28 as ‘local holiday’ in Dibrugarh and Karbi Anglong districts in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. All state government offices, educational institutions etc., will remain closed on the said day.