Ahead of Assam Assembly polls, Karbi groups seek autonomous state; Amit Shah mum

Groups representing Karbi community in Assam on Thursday asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to fulfil their long demand for an autonomous state, two days after 1,040 militants belonging to five insurgent groups in Karbi Anglong laid down their weapons.

"People of Karbi Anglong have been agitating for an autonomous state under Article 244A of the Constitution since 1950s. The agitation took the form of a mass movement in 1986 and several groups took to violence. The long violence destroyed many lives and affected education and the entire development process. Now all rebel groups have come forward for peace and laid down weapons. This is the time to take urgent steps for fulfilling the long demand of an autonomous state for permanent peace and development," Tuliram Ronghang, chief executive member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) told Shah at a public rally at Dengaon in Karbi Anglong on Thursday.

BJP is in power of KAAC, an autonomous council set up under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State, a forum of several Karbi organisations on Sunday also demanded that BJP should fulfill its promise since 2008 about autonomous state.

"Creation of the autonomous state within the state of Assam as provided under Article 244 (A) is the constitutional, democratic and longstanding demand of the people of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao," the committee said.

Shah, who addressed the large crowd after Ronghang, however, did not say anything about the demand. Instead he promised that a special development package would be announced soon for Karbi Anglong.

"Let me assure you today that the promises to be made in the package would be fulfilled in the next one year. So please vote for BJP again for the next five years to make Karbi Anglong one of the most developed districts. Development of Assam is not possible without development of Karbi Anglong," Shah said.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also addressed the crowd, did not talk about the demand. BJP workers in the district said that non-fulfilment of the demand could impact BJP's prospect in the two hills district in the Assembly elections slated in April.

Five militant groups, Peoples Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCk), Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF), Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT), United People's Liberation Army (UPLA) and Kuki Liberation Front (KLF), which laid down their weapons on Monday will soon sign an agreement with the government. The militants laid down 338 weapons that included AK-47 rifles, M-16 rifles, LMGs, rocket launchers and others