People’s Democratic Council of Karbi-Longri (PDCK) reiterates demand for ‘freedom’ of Karbi people

Kokrajhar: JK Lijang, president of the People’s Democratic Council of Karbi-Longri (PDCK), in a press statement said that on Sunday the outfit observed the second foundation day of PDCK.

He said that the PDCK was formed to liberate and restore the lost freedom and glory of the Karbi people from the clutches of the colonialist Government of India. “We, the Karbi people, had been living with dignity and freedom in our own land before India attacked our sovereignty. Government of India does not have the respect for fundamental human rights, dignity and freedom of small nations like the Karbis. PDCK will continue its fight till we achieve our long cherished goal— freedom of the Karbi people,” Lijang said, adding that they strongly condemned the Government of India for its marginalization and forced assimilation policy towards indigenous Karbi people.

He said the Art of Living Foundation was working like a political tool of the Government of India and not as a social and religious organization. In the name of forging a violence-free and stress-free society, this organization is now taking up the role of mediator during peace talks with the revolutionary parties in our region. “They make a lot of promises and sell dreams to indigenous people and use yoga training as bait. Now they are occupying more than 10 hectares of land in Diphu for these purposes,” he said, adding that the indigenous Karbi people wanted freedom and not yoga. He appealed to the indigenous people of Longri to cooperate with PDCK to regain freedom. During the celebration of the second foundation day of PDCK, many outfit leaders were present.