All party delegation to meet PM, Sonia and Shinde

Diphu, Aug 4: An all-party delegation of members from Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to urge them to grant a separate state for Karbi Anglong.

"The will of the people in the ongoing agitation for a separate state in Karbi Anglong needs to be conveyed to the Centre. So it is essential that the elected representatives of the people in the district go to New Delhi to do the job," spokesman of the delegation, Daniel Teron said today.

The delegation, which is scheduled to leave for the national capital tomorrow, would be led by KAAC Chief Executive Member Joyram Engleng. It would include three elected members of Hills State Democratic Party (HSDP) and they would apprise the central leaders of the present situation in Karbi Anglong.

"In case the leaders fail to give an audience to the delegation and a positive response, only then there will bee need for further agitation," Teron said. It was for this reason that the 100-hour bandh called by HSDP and other organisations from tomorrow has been deferred. "It is the need of the hour that forces who are associated with the demand for a separate state in Karbi Anglong remain united so that their demand can be carried forward peacefully and democratically," he said.

Teron also appealed to all sections of the people to maintain calm and restore peace in the area as there is a 'plot' to deflect the aim of the agitation and reduce it to a parties' clash by burning party offices of Congress and HSDP. The people should not react to such 'provocation', he added.

PTI