BJP, APHLC engage in war of words over scraping of ‘autonomous’

DIPHU — The ruling BJP in Karbi Anglong and the opposition All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) have been engaging in a war of words over the scraping of the word ‘autonomous’ from 6 – Diphu (ST) Parliamentary Constituency in Assam, by the Election Commission of India.

APHLC leader JI Kathar had said during the party’s recent dharna at Hamren old market in West Karbi Anglong district headquarters that “the erstwhile Mikir hills autonomous district has been renamed as Karbi Anglong autonomous district as per the 6th scheduled to the Constitution of India. To manage the autonomous district the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council was constituted”.

‘Though there was opposition from the APHLC during the delimitation process, the BJP government did not listen and scrapped the word ‘autonomous’ from the 6 – Diphu (ST) Parliamentary Constituency. It was earlier called 3 – Autonomous District (ST) Parliamentary Constituency, but now, if the word ‘autonomous’ is scrapped, the districts under the Parliamentary Constituency are no more 6th scheduled districts. It will become general district,’ Kathar had pointed out.

However, Howraghat MLA Darsing Ronghang countered the allegation, while addressing the open session of the 73rd KAAC foundation day celebration at Taralangso on June 23, saying that the APHLC has once again started creating confusion among the general public with the word ‘autonomous district’ and instigated the youths to agitate.

“The 3 – Autonomous District (ST) Parliamentary Constituency after the delimitation of constituencies done before the 2024 Parliamentary election this particular constituency has been named as 6 – Diphu (ST) Parliamentary Constituency,” he said.

He added that the Parliamentary Constituency itself does not hold any autonomous power, but it is meant for reservation of scheduled tribe (ST) candidates to contest in the Parliamentary election.

Kathar is claiming that scrapping the word ‘autonomous’ means the powers of the 6th Schedule have been taken away by the state government. He is making irrelevant issues to divert the attention of the general public from real issues and the development that is taking place in the districts, stated Ronghang.