The United body of 24 indigenous organizations, stating the Karbi Peace Accord to be a gimmack, started protesting to raise their voice in Karbi Anglong after the signing of the agreement was completed.
Demand of the organizations to declare all the hill districts of Karbi Anglong as autonomous states
The organizations asked Union home minister Amit Shah to declare all the hill districts of Karbi Anglong, that included West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao as ‘autonomous state’ under the provision of Article-244 (A) of the Indian Constitution.
The main reason behind the protest
“Most importantly, the BJP government kept the demand for the implementation of Article-244 (A) hidden while finalizing the agreement. It was not even discussed. So our protest on this prime issue will continue,” said Abinash Ronghang, convenor of the forum.
Members of the organizations took to the streets of Diphu, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong, and shouted slogans against the accord. He stated that the peace accord has also ‘opened up’ 10 council seats of the district.
(KAAC) to other categories, which they said was undesirable. “There is no point of reservation of seats in the sixth schedule administered areas like KAAC. We knew that all seats here are for tribes,” Ronghang said. “All constituencies in KAAC should have been reserved for the tribals living in Karbi Anglong. Tactfully, these 10 seats have been taken away from us, paving the way for other community representation,” Ronghang stated.
After the completion of the signing
After completion of the signing of the Accord, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the number of members will increase to 50. CM Sarma also added that six of these members will be nominated by the governor, and 44 will get elected. “The 10 seats will be open, while 34 will be reserved for Scheduled Tribes,” Sarma mentioned. His viewpoints contradicted those of the forum. Sarma had said in the northeast hill.
Once the militant leader Songbijit Ingti Kathar, and the others who signed the accord were granted a very warm welcome at the Guwahati Airport as the Karbi folk artists played traditional musical instruments to welcome.
He added that it has been finalized in the agreement that all candidates of the militant outfits that agreed over the accord will be rehabilitated by the Centre and the state government. Songbijit praised the efforts of chief minister Sarma in bringing peace all over.
While others opposed the Accord AATS welcomed the accord
Despite getting opposition by some of the local organizations, All Assam Tribal Sangha welcomed the peace accord in its executive meeting. AATS secretary-general Aditya Khakhlari said, “Bringing militant outfits to the peace process is a landmark. But speedy implementation of the promises is a must. In the 50s itself, Karbi Anglong was brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution but hardly any welfare work for the tribals was noticeable. Ultimately militancy grew.”
