The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) has condemned the statement of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju that there is no possibility of creating Autonomous State.
Addressing a press conference here, ASDC general secretary Daniel Teron said Autonomous State as per Article 244 (A) of the constitution of India is constitutional right of the people of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
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Junior Home Minister Rijiju made the statement in Rajya Sabha while replying to a question by MP Biswajit Daimary.
He said, “During the recently held election to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in June 2017, BJP in its election manifesto had categorically promised implementation of Article 244 (A) if elected. During parliamentary election, even the incumbent Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh while visiting Karbi Anglong in April 2014 had promised to seriously consider implementation of Article 244(A).”
Strongly condemning the statement of Minister Rijiju, Teron said, “The statement of the minister is reflection of the government and the Sangh Parivaar which is bent upon destroying the tribal communities of Assam hills by curtailing their democratic and constitutional rights and now, by scrapping Article 244(A).”
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Teron said the ASDC challenged the BJP to clarify on the Autonomous State issue. The party also alleged that the recent trip jointly sponsored by BJP and Congress to demand Autonomous State was nothing but a political stunt and eyewash.
Teron added the statement of the minister only strengthen the resolve of the ASDC to struggle for Autonomous State and appeal to the ‘misguided’ BJP supporters to join the regional party.
The Hill State Demand Committee (HSDC) also condemned the statement of Rijiju.
“He (Minister Kiren Rijiju) said that there is no agenda on creation of state all over India. This is very unfortunate and we condemn it. It is unconstitutional. The BJP has repeatedly and even in the last Autonomous Council election it has promised to implement Autonomous State which was at no. 1 in their manifesto. Now it is now open before the people that their promise was false. The people should now struggle for Hill State/ Autonomous State. I appeal to BJP supporters to come to the regional party to struggle together for statehood,” HSDC leader and former MP Dr Jayanta Rongpi said.
HSDC president Dr Mongve Rongpi expressing similar views said, “The BJP’s stand on creation of Autonomous State has been completely exposed. The district BJP leaders should now clarify their stand when their own central minister Kiren Rijiju has said that the Centre is against creation of state as per Article 3 or Autonomous State under Article 244 (A).”
The Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) in a statement said that the minister’s statement amounts to denial of the democratic rights of the hill people. As the BJP’s major poll promise was implementation of Autonomous State the district, state and central leadership of the BJP should clarify their stand on the issue.