Sit in Protest By HSDC in Haflong

Haflong,April’30: The Hills State Demand Council(HSDC) today organized a day long sit in demonstration   in front of  Deputy Commissioners Office, Dima Hasao ,Haflong. The sit in demonstration was held in demand of immediate creation of  Hills state for Karbi-Anglong and Dima Hasao.
 Latter, the HSDC,Haflong Dima Hasao has submitted a memorandum on behalf of the Hills State Demand Council and associate organizations  signatories Dr. Jayanta Rongpi, Ex-MP, Convener, H.S.D.C, Dr. Jotson Bey, Ex-CEM, Convener, H.S.D.C, Holiram Terang, Ex-Minister, Convener, H.S.D.C.to the Prime Minister citing   demand of the statehood comprising the two hills districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao of the present state of Assam through numerous memorandum and representation made by different peoples’ organization and parties in the last many years. 

It can be recalled that peoples mandates was given in massive manners in all the levels like Autonomous Council, Legislative Assembly and the Parliament in many Election in the Nineties and early years of this century. The Autonomous Council of birth of the hills district had passed unanimous resolution demanding creation of state hood and the elected representatives in the Assembly and the Parliament too had the issue many times. The civil society also unequivocally had expressed its desire for statehood through various Democratic Movement for the last many decades. It can be recalled that in respond to a strong mass movement, the government of India had signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) along with the government of Assam with the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and other organizations on April 1^st, 1995. This was naturally an interims arrangement and the core issue of creational of a state for the two hills districts could not be resolved.

The memo stated that the Government of India also had signed Memorandum of Settlement (MoS)s with the United Peoples’ Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) on 25th  November, 2011 and also with Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) and 8^thOctober, 2013. These two MoS are yet to be ratified by the Parliament not to say of implementing the clauses even though Four years have gone by. Even the latest ‘solution’ of MoS too did not address the core issue of statehood. Hence the birth of many other armed groups basing on the same issue of statehood. Therefore, positive political solution addressing the core issue of statehood is a must for maintaining sustainable peace and development in a geo-politically sensitive area like these two hills district. The memo also  draw  attention to the reorganization of Assam and North-east India in 1969, when the state of Meghalaya was created with the hills district of Khasi and  Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills of the state of Assam. The then Lushai Hills also became the state of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura were also upgraded to full statehood from Union Territory. These two hills district of Karb Anglong (the then MikirHills) and Dima Hasao (the then North Cachar Hills) which were administered under the same Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India as the Khasi-Jaintia hills and Garo hills did not join Meghalaya but were promised by the parliament of India for creation of an Autonomous State whenever required by incorporating Article 244 (A) in the Constitution of India. The Article 244 (A) of the Constitution of India has not been implemented yet. On the other hand, the Government of India has created the states of Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh. Even though there was no Parliamentary Commitment or special Constitution provision like Article 244(A) for making those states. Lately, the Government of India has created the state of Telangana despite, the Shri Krihna Commission constituted by the Government of India’s opposition to such creation.

The memo urged the Prime Minister Norendra Modiji  to understand the anguish, frustration and anger of the people of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, when the government does not act on the solemn promise of the Parliament and implement the specific provision of the constitution. Whereas many other states are being created where there was no such provision. There can be no greater example of political discrimination than this.It also  mentioned that L.K. Avani ji and then B.J.P. President Rajnath Singhji had made specific public assurance to the people of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao District during their visit to our area. These assurances, especially when  Rajnath Singh is at Home Minister of India now, have kindled hopes in the minds of the people of these two hills districts. While the government is going to complete one year soon and no step had yet been taken to take forward these assurances.

The memo persist the Honorable Prime Minister to pacify the agitated minds of the hills people and correct the discriminatory policies of the erstwhile governments by creating Hills State comprising Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. The youth have become restless once again which are not healthy signs. The creation of State for the two hills district of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao would not only bring sustainable peace to the area but also positively contribute towards National Building, Unity and Integrity of India