Diphu, April 7 (MExN): 24 Karbi Anglong-based organizations have called for closure (bandh) of East and West Karbi Anglong for 36 hours from 5:00 am of April 10 to 5:00 pm of April 11 in protest against what it alleged as “shirking of duty, abdication of constitutional responsibility and falsehood of the present leaders of the KAAC and illegally continuing in the Council”. The 24 organizations are demanding the making of Act and Rules for preparation of correct Voters Lists and the conduct of elections of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). Students and staff of educational institutions having examinations, doctors and staff of health services, officers and men of electric department, milk supply and water supply are however exempted from the purview of the bandh. The organizations in a statement appealed to the citizens to support the bandh insisting that “it is a question of survival of the tribal people and for peace”. “All are requested to observe the bandh peacefully and to be vigilant on the agents provocateurs,” the release added. The 24 organizations in their statement alleged that the KAAC has not taken any action to enact the Representation of People (In KAAC) Act, 2017. The Representation of People (In KAAC) Rules, 2017 for preparation of KAAC Voters Lists and for conduct of Elections of KAAC has also not been enacted in spite of submitting petitions, ultimatums and PILs, it added. Pointing out that it is the constitutional obligation of the KAAC to make the Act and Rules for conduct of KAAC elections under Paragraph 2, Sub-Paragraph 7 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, the organizations argued, “The KAAC has abdicated its constitutional responsibility.” It reminded the Government of Assam that it also has responsibilities under the same paragraph and sub-paragraph of the Sixth Schedule. Insisting that the KAAC is answerable to the people as to why it is unable to make the laws for preparing Voters Lists and for conducting KAAC elections, the organizations also questioned why the KAAC failed to delete the names of ineligible persons from the Voters Lists, for protection of the tribal people, although the Sixth Schedule empowers the KAAC to do so. The 24 organisations further argued that the elections of KAAC in 2012 was conducted by the Assam State Election Commission “which has no power to do so”. “Moreover, the term of the present KAAC has already expired. Therefore, the present KAAC has no legal authority to continue,” it added and demanded that the present occupants of the Council tender their resignations immediately.
