GUWAHATI, May 22 ? The Karbi Students? Association (KSA) has decided to ?gherao? the offices of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) on May 29 to compel the elected representatives to ?act positively? on their demands centred on not granting ST(H) status to the Bodos living in the hill district. ?The KSA is determined to launch relentless struggle till the government concedes to the demand raised by the organisation,? KSA president Bidya Teron said during a press conference here today.
Deciding to launch a series of mass agitational programmes to protest against Clause 8 of the BTC Accord, that concedes the BLT?s demand to grant ST(H) status to the Bodos, the KSA demanded that the KAAC must pass a resolution to reiterate that any demand for ST(H) status must be considered only on the basis of the 1991 resolution of the KAAC. According to Teron, the resolution, adopted on November 6 that year, had stated that an autonomous state should first be created and the issue of scheduling addressed only after that. Teron, however, remained non-commital on whether the KSA will agree to the granting of ST(H) status to the Bodos once the autonomous state is created.
The KSA has also demanded that the Assam government must also adopt a resolution not to implement Clause 8 without first creating an autonomous state in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills as per Article 244 (A) of the Constitution. The Union government must seek fresh opinion from the KAAC and the NC Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) with regard to Clause 8 as the issue falls within the ?exclusive jurisdiction? of the two autonomous councils, the KSA demanded.
Welcoming the Centre?s decision not to go ahead with the controversial clause, the KSA expressed concern at the ?dual role? played by the ruling parties. ?It is a conspiracy of the Congress and the BJP to divert the autonomous state movement which has the support of all communities,? Teron said. Cautioning the people against any complacency at this ?temporary reprieve?, the KSA said that the issue is still alive and ?vested interest group is hyperactive? to implement the clause.
?We believe in the one tribe one status principle,? said Teron, adding that granting ST(H) status to the Bodos will lead to their cornering all social, economic and political benefits at the cost of the indigenous tribes in the hill districts. ?The Bodos are the most advanced. If they are given the ST(H) status others will be deprived,? he stated.
Teron accused the Congress MLAs from Karbi Anglong of remaining silent over this issue. Dismissing the reported objections raised by ministers GC Langthasa and RS Ronghang as a farce, he said that had they been sincere they should have objected to it in the state Assembly. Teron also accused the ASDC(U) led by Holiram Terang of having a ?nexus? with the BLT. He alleged that two years ago, the ASDC (U) had agreed to grant ST(H) status to the Bodos. The party also did not raise its voice when the BTC resolution was passed in the Assembly, the student leader said.