Sonowal Kacharis reiterate autonomy demand

DIBRUGARH, March 10: The All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students' Union has reiterated its demand for autonomy within Assam and has lambasted the State government for not keeping its word on the matter. Representatives of the association were assured on August 7, 1999 that soon after the Lok Sabha polls are over, the demand would get due priority from the State government. This assurance was from the State Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who formally met the students at Dispur that day. Speaking to The Assam Tribune here, the association's president, Tankeswar Sonowal and secretary, Dipak Sonowal, said: "We have been left with no choice but to resort to an agitation." While preparations for this go on, the students are planing a public rally on the autonomy issue in the city next month. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the association held on Thursday at Burhi Khowang village near here. The meeting took strong exception to the false promises made by the State Chief Minister, while condemning the government's 'anti-tribal attitude."