Nagaon, May 4: The pro-talks faction of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) today asked the apex organisation of the Kuki community to be realistic about its demand for a separate regional council for the Singhasan Hills of Karbi Anglong. It said the Kukis were neither an indigenous tribe of the district nor the dominant community in terms of population to deserve a separate regional council within the boundary of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
UPDS publicity secretary Tong-Eh-Nongloda accused both the Kuki National Assembly and the Kuki Inpi, Assam, of attempting to gain Delhi’s sympathy by misrepresenting the social and cultural background of the region.
He said the ethnic clashes in neighbouring Kuki-inhabited states between 1990 and 1994 prompted the community to migrate to the Singhasan Hills, in the process creating an identity crisis in Karbi Anglong.
“Migration by Kuki ginger cultivators to the fertile region now threatens the very existence of the indigenous tribes. The demand for a regional council will not be tolerated at any cost,” the militant leader said.
The Kuki National Assembly yesterday urged the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission to form a separate regional council for the 40,000 Kukis based in the districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills.