ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Kabris demand for separate state

The Karbi Anglong-North Cachar Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee -- KANCHASDCOM -- and the Karbi Students Association today pressed for their various demands including the ''immediate creation'' of an autonomous state comprising Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills.

In a memorandum to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, they said the full implementation of Article 244(a) of the Constitution should be included in the national agenda. Article 244(a) provides for elevation of the status of the two districts to an autonomous state.

The memorandum said the KANCHASDCOM, a committee comprising various voluntary and political organisations, had raised the issue with the Centre since 1986. The first-ever talks were held on December 26, 1988 and the second round of negotiations on July 25, 1989.

''It was then agreed upon that the home ministry officials shall be directed to study the points raised by delegates vis-a-vis the creation of an autonomous state for further talks on the issue.'' The memorandum said the demand was not just for eliminating the word ''district'' from the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council or delegating more powers to the district councils as mentioned in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Centre and the Autonomous State Demand Committee on April 1, 1995.

The demand was for ''autonomy to the district council as is possible and provided under Article 244(a) of the Constitution.''

Tell us what you think of this report