Mech Kacharis demand autonomy

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 27: The Mech Kachari Jatiya Parishad, Assam (MKJPA) today burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in protest against the failure on the part of Dispur to ensure autonomy to them at Dighalipukhuripar in the city.  MKJPA president Chandan Mech said: “Barring the Mech Kacharis, all backward tribes in Assam have been given autonomous parishads. Ours has been a long-standing demand. What’s even more shocking is that the Mech Kachari Development Council Chairman has extended the term of the Parishad without consulting any of the Mech Kachari organizations and took oath yesterday. When we’ve moved the Minister of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes, we came to know that he was not aware of the extension of the term of the council. We demand dissolution of the development council and to form an autonomous council for the community, failing which we’ll boycott the Assembly elections in the State”.