By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 9: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has welcomed the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) that was signed between the Centre, Assam Government and both the factions of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) on Monday, terming it as a “big achievement” for the Congress.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Tuesday, APCC media cell chairman Dr Haren Das said, “Peace had eluded the Dima Hasao district for years. There was strife, violence and killings. But now that the MoS has been signed and both the factions of DHD have abjured violence to tread the path of peace, it will herald in prosperity in the Dima Hasao district. The MoS is good news, not just for the district, but for Assam as a whole. This is indeed a big achievement for the Congress.”

Dr Das added that the APCC membership drive that would take off from October 16, would first be conducted in the Dima Hasao district.

“Preparations have started for the panchayat polls. In fact, if the Lok Sabha polls are conducted after two months, we are ready,” said a confident Dr Das.

When asked if the Congress would give tickets to  DHD leaders if they wanted to contest in any election, he said, “They will have to first join the Congress and anybody who is eligible to contest will be given party tickets.”

Regarding the controversy over APCC general secretary Rajesh Joshi going missing with Rs 1 crore, Dr Das said, “We have issued show-cause notice to the APCC members whose names have come up in the controversy. The APCC has nothing to do with this.”

Meanwhile, the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council has also welcomed the MoS that has been signed. In a press statement, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council executive member Kalijoy Sengyung said that October 8 was a red-letter day for the Dima Hasao district. “It is a matter of great privilege and satisfaction that the State and the Central governments had taken the initiative to restore peace and normalcy and to solve the long-pending problems of the people of Dima Hasao district. The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council is hopeful that in the future the district of Dima Hasao will notice peace, tranquillity and harmony amongst all the ethnic tribes,” said Sengyung.