The Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) congratulated the Bodo Accord 2020 signed in New Delhi on Monday.
A tripartite Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed in New Delhi among the Centre, Assam government and all factions of the NDFB and ABSU.
While welcoming the third Bodo Accord, the JACAS urged the Central government to fulfill its long-standing demand of the hill people of Assam for the creation of an autonomous state under Article 244 (A) of the Constitution.
In a press conference, welcoming the Bodo Accord, JACAS chairman Khorsing Teron said, “We appreciated both the Centre and the state government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal for the sincerity shown toward the Bodo issues.”
“The Bodo Accord speaks volumes about the special attention by Prime Minister Modi and home minister Amit Shah in settling the issues and problems of ethnic groups of Assam as well as the Northeast,” he added.
Teron also mentioned that the Karbi Longri-North Cachar Hills Liberation Front has been engaged in the peace process since 2010 and two more militant groups, Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) and United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) are under the suspension of operation (SoO).
The JACAS appealed to the state and central governments to show the same responsiveness and sincerity to the aspirations of the Karbi people by expediting the peace talks with these insurgent groups.
Teron also said since 1986, the demand for creation of an autonomous state under Article 244 (A) of the constitution was made.
While blaming the Karbi leaders for their failure to achieve the autonomous state, Teron said, “We do not want to blame the state or the central government. Governments have responded to us, but our own people are not untied and strong for the same cause.”
“When the government invited us for talks at the ground, there are certain forces working to weaken our movement,” he added.
JACAS, a conglomeration of social organizations, was formed to demand an autonomous state in 2013 with more than 26 organisations. Now only 7 organisations are with the JACAS.