We don't want non-tribals to vote in KAAC poll: Karbi Students Association

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Protest in Karbi Anglong is becoming stringent to debar non-tribal people from casting votes in the forthcoming KAAC (Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council) election.

The Council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is to safeguard the interest of the tribal population in the hill district. The agitators say that the right to elect KAAC representatives is of the tribal populace only.

The agitation in the hill district is going on under the banner of 24+. The agitators comprise students' organizations, political parties, social organizations etc.

Talking to The Sentinel, Karbi Students Association (KSA) president Samson Teron said, "Our agitation is not against non-tribal people. It is a fight to keep the special status that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution gives to tribal/indigenous people intact. All seats in Karbi Anglong — Lok Sabha, Assembly, and KAAC — elections are reserved for ST candidates. We have no objection to non-tribal people voting in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. However, we demand an exclusive electoral roll with tribal/indigenous voters for the KAAC election.

"In 2018, the Gauhati High Court issued an order to the KAAC asking it to frame rules for the preparations of a separate electoral roll for the Council election. However, because of its lackadaisical attitude, the KAAC has not prepared the separate the electoral roll yet. Strangely enough, the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) in the Dima Hasao district has a separate electoral roll for the Council poll."

The KAAC has 30 seats. While the Council elects 26 members, the government nominates four. The KAAC poll is slated for April this year.

Teron also clarified the word 'indigenous'. He said, "The KAAC came into being in 1951. We consider all those people residing there before 1951 or their progenies as indigenous. They can exercise their franchise in the KAAC election. The new immigrants into the hill district are troublemakers. Our agitation is to debar such people from excising franchise in the KAAC poll. We want to keep their influence on the KAAC poll at bay."

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