ASDC wants State-within-state policy

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) A high-powered delegation comprising leaders from the Autonomous State Demand committee (ASDC) and various other groups from Assam had an hour-long meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil here today over various issues confronting Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills of the State.

The delegation consisted of the Karbi Students' Association (KSA), the Dimasa Students' Union (DSU), the Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA) and the Dimasa Women Society (DWS).

During the meeting the spokesman for the delegation Elwin Teron informed Mr Patil how the State Government was trying to divide the various tribal sections in these two hills and in the process is also encouraging violence in the region.

Mr Teron pointed out that despite knowing the geographical importance of this region the State Government is not taking any measures to curb the entry of infiltrators or even keeping a close eye on the movements of the militant outfits. As as a result the region has become a safe passage for the movement of number of militant outfits, he added.

He said such a situation arose as the State Government withdrew the security forces from the border outposts adjoining Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.

Later, talking to newspersons, Mr Teron said the ASDC along with all other members in the delegation was still of the view that this region could prosper within Assam under the provision of Article 244(A) where a State can function within a State under a federal structure.

However, it would be the biggest mistake if the State Governemnt and the Centre thinks ''it to be our weakness'', he added. Mr Teron said if Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya could be carved out from the erstwhile Assam State then ''there is no law which could prevent us from securing our Statehood as all these areas including these two hill were from the excluded areas of Assam. So nothing can stop us in securing our Statehood''.

The spokesman also said the tribals can very well look after themselves and this can be very well judged from the economic indicators of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland vis-a-vis to North Cachar Hill and Karbi Anglong areas where the economy has in fact declined and people of the region have lost their land to the illegal migrants who number over one lakh.

UNI BKS AKJ AS1822