The ten autonomous councils and territorial councils of the Northeast are expecting results from the centre with regards to the 125th Amendment Bill to the Constitution related to the Sixth Schedule.
Members of the Autonomous District Councils have constituted a committee at a meeting held here today to pursue the demand collectively and to ensure that the centre honour the commitments made in a time bound manner.
“If we speak individually we will never be able to achieve whatever we want. So if we can combine our strength, energy and put pressure on the government of India, they have to heed to our demand,” TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Deb Barman said after the meeting.
In July, the Centre had decided to set up a three-member committee headed by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai to examine the points raised by various Autonomous District Councils after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The delegation was assured that the committee would study all the points and suggestions and come up with a report by August 25.
“He did not give me that commitment individually, he gave it to all the ten district councils and now he has to honour the commitment, otherwise we will have to put pressure in our own way which may not be in the best interest of the government of India,” Deb Barman said.
“I don’t see any reason why they (Government) cannot do it. The Congress party which is in the opposition has agreed to support the 125th Amendment, the ruling in its manifesto has said that they will implement the 125th Amendment so where is the delay. Maybe the delay is that we are not speaking out aggressively and we are not negotiating our rights properly with the government of India,” he said.
He said that the efforts of the indigenous people under the ten autonomous district councils is to give maximum to the indigenous people from across the region even as he added that the time has come for all to speak for their people rather than speak for their parties.
Deb Barman also said that if the ten autonomous district councils have to agitate, submit memorandums, negotiate (with the centre) they will do it as a joint working group rather than individually going to New Delhi and the issues are not getting resolved.
In January 2019, the Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha to amend the provisions related to the Finance Commission and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the committee constituted by the 10 district councils will be led by KHADC CEM Pyniaid Sing Syiem as the chief convener, two more convener as well as Deb Barman and Elwyn Teron of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council as advisors and ten executive members.
The ten Autonomous Councils comprise the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Bodo Territorial Council, Tripura Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, three ADCs of Mizoram namely Lai Autonomous District Council, Chakma Autonomous District Council and Mara Autonomous District Council.
