Non-tribal organizations demand regional council in Karbi Anglong

Bokajan: Various non-tribal organizations on Saturday marched through the streets of Bokajan demanding the immediate withdrawal of the committee constituted by the CEM of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to study the demand to curtail ‘the right to adult franchise’ of non-tribals residing in Karbi Anglong.

The organizations also demanded a Non-Tribal Regional Council for the all-round development and peaceful existence of non-tribals, which is otherwise in the Sixth Schedule administration of Karbi Anglong. The protesters further demanded to immediately issue land pattas to the non-tribal people of the hill district.

Later, the organization submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Assam through the SDO(C) Bokajan, drawing the former’s attention towards the grievances of the non-tribal people in the hill district of Karbi Anglong.

Addressing the media, Anil Toppo, adviser of AASAA, condemned MLA Dr Numal Momin for not raising non-tribal cause in the special assembly session on Karbi Anglong. Toppo also warned Dr Momin to refrain from visiting non-tribal areas if the demands were not met soon.

Recalling the formation of Karbi Anglong, Niranjan Karmakar, president of Bokajan District Demand Committee, said that KSA, JACAS and more than 24 organizations must realize that the Karbi Anglong district was formed by craving out land from Nagaon and erstwhile Sivasagar district. Prior to 1951, there were no hills tribal villages and the area was part of the erstwhile Sivasagar district.

The present day tribal villages in Bokajan are newly-established model villages to counter the non-tribal settlements and maintain the demographic balance. The area was earlier administered under local boards from Golaghat Sadar and was excluded outside the preview of the partially excluded area since the colonial regime.

“We have a legitimate demand, the KAAC is happily taking the land but not accepting the people living in these parts,” he said.