Karbi organizations appeal to President Droupadi Murmu to create autonomous state

Guwahati: A number of organizations of Karbi Anglong appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to consider the creation of an autonomous state within Assam under Article 244 (A) of the Indian Constitution.

It has been a long-standing demand for the creation of an autonomous state comprising the districts of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills.

Although President Murmu could not be physically present at the Karbi Youth Festival in Diphu following bad weather, the organizations-Autonomous State Demand Committee, Karbi Students' Association, and Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong-submitted a memorandum before the President through the District Commissioner, Diphu. The memorandum urged the President to grant an autonomous state comprising the three hill districts of Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and NC Hills.

Article 244 (A) was passed a long time ago by Parliament to create an autonomous state within a state. Article 244 (A) allows the formation of an autonomous state comprising certain tribal areas in Assam and the creation of a local legislature, a council of ministers, or both thereof.

Sources said, "The President of India is empowered to declare an area to be a scheduled area. The President can also increase or decrease its area, alter its boundary lines, or redesign an area after consultation with the Governor. In a considered opinion, granting autonomous statehood to Karbi Anglong and NC Hills and the self-determination of the people developed thereby will pave the way for the hill tribes to contribute their best to the integration of peace and prosperity of the nation."

The sources further said that an amendment was made to the Constitution for the formation of an autonomous state within a state, but, regretfully, it has not been implemented. The Congress and BJP both gave assurance to the people of the hill districts about the implementation of Article 244 (A), but nobody has done it so far. Even Horen Singh Bey, the BJP MP from Diphu, had appealed to the centre to create an autonomous state in January 2021. Again, in 2023, five Karbi organizations had appealed to the PM to consider the proposal for the formation of the autonomous state.

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