Assam: From gun culture to agriculture, KA witnessed giant transformation, says CM

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/DIPHU: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today reviewed the status of implementation of various clauses of the memorandum of settlement (MoS) signed by the government with various surrendered militant groups of Karbi Anglong.

The Chief Minister said, "I review the terms of settlement with ex-cadres of six erstwhile groups. From gun culture to agriculture and extremism to entrepreneurship, Karbi Anglong has witnessed a giant transformation recently. I discussed the problems being faced by the former cadres of armed groups that shunned violence and joined the mainstream of society. I took stock of the various clauses of the memorandum of settlement and its clauses that have been implemented and the clauses still to be implemented. We are implementing the Karbi peace accord in letter and spirit."

The Chief Minister announced that pending legal cases against all cadres of these groups would be withdrawn, paving the way for their rehabilitation. He further revealed that necessary constitutional amendments to support these settlements would be initiated promptly.

The government of India signed peace agreements with six militant groups of Karbi Anglong, including the Adivasi People's Liberation Army, Karbi Longri-NC Hills Liberation Front, Karbi People's Liberation Tiger, United People's Liberation Army, Kuki Liberation Army, etc., in 2021 in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. At the tripartite talks, the central government promised to provide a Rs 1,000-crore package for the development of Karbi Anglong. The Assam Government was to undertake specific projects for the development of Karbi Anglong. The core demand of most of the armed groups from Karbi Anglong was the demand for a separate state within Assam.

Article 244(A) of the Constitution allows the Parliament to enact a law to establish an 'autonomous state' within Assam. This demand still persists, as various other Karbi organisations have been raising the demand for a separate state within the state of Assam.

Addressing queries on Article 244(A), which pertains to the autonomy of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), the Chief Minister emphasised that the Assam Government has delegated extensive powers to the KAAC for budgeting and law-making. He clarified that these powers have the approval of the Governor of Assam, and the state government would refrain from interfering in KAAC's autonomous functions.

The memorandum of settlement signed with Karbi groups in 2021 says, "It will ensure greater devolution of autonomy to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, protection of identity, language, culture, etc. of Karbi people, and focused development of the council area without affecting the territorial and administrative integrity of Assam."

The Chief Minister assured that the Scheduled Tribe (Hills/Plains) status and the establishment of a Karbi Welfare Council would be granted within the state of Assam to fulfil long-standing demands of the community. On the implementation of the Karbi Accord, Dr Sarma stated that the process to designate Karbi as an official language is under consideration. He noted that the state government would hold detailed consultations with the Karbi Sahitya Sabha, and a decision would be finalised soon.

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