Guwahati: Former MLA and senior Congress leader Mansing Rongpi on Saturday blamed the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) for what he described as “utter negligence” that has led to the ongoing unrest in Assam’s West Karbi Anglong.
He said the failure of the council to address long-pending land issues and protect indigenous rights had pushed the region into turmoil.
Rongpi was part of a delegation of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) that visited the violence-hit Kheroni area to assess the ground situation. The delegation was deputed by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi following recent incidents of unrest in the region.
Speaking to the media, Rongpi said the crisis could have been avoided had the authorities acted in time.
“The problem was never taken seriously. Even when the Gauhati High Court sought land documents from the council, they failed to submit them for two years. The genuine demand for eviction from PGR and VGR lands was ignored,” he alleged.
He further questioned the selective approach of the government in carrying out eviction drives. “When forest land is being cleared in other districts, why is West Karbi Anglong being ignored? This selective action is clearly driven by vote-bank politics,” he said.
Rongpi alleged that large portions of PGR and VGR land had been occupied by members of a particular community that supported the BJP in the 2015 and 2022 council elections, and that an organisation named the Asom Bhojpuri Parishad was formed to consolidate this occupation.
“The KAAC, which has full authority over land and revenue in the hill district, failed to act decisively and avoided the issue for over two years,” he said.
Rongpi also criticised what he described as the rise of communal rhetoric in the region. “Slogans like ‘Karbi go back to China’ are completely unacceptable. Why are such elements not being acted against? Why is the BJP silent?” he asked, adding that communal politics would only deepen the crisis.
He further alleged that the core issue of eviction was deliberately sidelined during the recent tripartite meeting with the Chief Minister.
“The BJP must stop vote-bank politics and address the genuine demands of the indigenous communities,” he said.
Rongpi also held Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responsible for the election of non-tribal candidates from two constituencies of the hill district to the council.
As part of the visit, the APCC delegation also paid homage to the victims of the recent violence. The team visited the homes of the late Linus Phangs and Suraj De, who lost their lives in the unrest, offered floral tributes, and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.
The delegation included Dudhnai MLA Yadav Swargiary, former minister and APCC vice president Pranoy Rabha, APCC general secretary Bitopan Saikia, former MLA Mansing Rongpi, West Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee president Augustine Ingti, APYC vice president Rakesh Chakraborty, APCC general secretary and former KAAC member Ashok Taron, and APCC secretary Prashanta Mahanta, among others.
The Congress leaders reiterated their demand for immediate administrative intervention, accountability of the KAAC, and a fair resolution of land- and identity-related issues to restore peace in West Karbi Anglong.