In a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, Congress leaders from Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts held a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati, alleging a conspiracy to undermine the constitutional rights and land ownership of the Karbi community. The leaders accused the BJP government, under Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, of attempting to transfer Karbi land to corporate giants, threatening the displacement of local villages.
Bidyasing Rongpi, president of the East Karbi Anglong District Congress, alleged that Chief Minister Sarma is orchestrating a sinister plot to hand over Karbi land to conglomerates like Adani and Ambani, putting numerous Karbi villages at risk of eviction. He presented evidence to support these claims during the press conference.
Ratan Engti, a former member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), criticized the Chief Minister for using Tuliram Ronghang, the Chief Executive Member of KAAC, as a “land ATM card” to facilitate the transfer of Karbi land to corporate entities. Engti accused Ronghang of securing contracts worth thousands of crores in the name of his relatives, thereby undermining the overall development of Karbi Anglong. He further alleged that Ronghang has built lavish farmhouses and is living a regal lifestyle.
Former legislator Jagat Sing Engti stated that under the BJP’s leadership, not only the Karbi community but also the indigenous people of Assam are no longer secure. He demanded a CBI investigation into the alleged misuse of development funds by Ronghang and called for transparency in the findings.
Rupasing Bongrung, president of the West Karbi Anglong District Congress, and senior leader Rupasing Bey expressed outrage, alleging a conspiracy to undermine the rights granted to the Karbi community under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. They accused the BJP leadership of plundering the region’s forest resources and claimed that a solar energy project, purportedly for Adani, would displace approximately 20,000 people across 23-24 villages. Official documents, however, underreport the impact, stating only 1,200-1,400 people would be affected and classifying the land as barren. The KAAC has fixed compensation at ₹1.75 lakh per bigha, significantly lower than market rates, sparking anger among locals.
The Congress leaders condemned the BJP for allegedly dismantling the autonomous governance system of Karbi Anglong through family-centric politics and undermining the constitutional dignity of the Karbi people. They demanded the protection of the Sixth Schedule and the safeguarding of Karbi land, vowing to continue their fight against these alleged injustices.
