CPI(M-L) for autonomous State within Assam

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 16. A day before the proposed introduction of the three States' re- organisation bills in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, while the Congress(I) MPs from Punjab objected strongly to the move to include Udham Singh Nagar in the new hill State of Uttarakhand, the CPI(M-L) used the occasion to press its long- standing demand for the creation of an autonomous hill State within Assam.

The party protested the Vajpayee Government's reported stand that no more new states would be created, and announced a 12-hour Assam ``bandh'' on May 18 to highlight the issue. It also called for a ``federal reorganisation'' of the country, and suggested the setting up of a second States' reorganisation commission to examine the matter.

In the Lok Sabha, Congress(I) members were angry that the Government was going ahead with the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand despite opposition to it from the people of the area. They complained that the George Fernandes committee set up to elicit public opinion on the issue did ``not hear anybody'', and pointed out that the people were extremely upset. Even as the Speaker, Mr. G.M.C. Balayogi, tried to restrain them saying they could make their point when the Bill was introduced, the members continued to protest. They said Udham Singh Nagar had a distinct identity which would be destroyed if it was clubbed with the new State. They threatened to oppose the Bill.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M-L) general secretary, Mr. Dipankar Bhattacharya, and the party's MP from the north-east, Dr. Jayanta Rongpi, said their demand for an autonomous hill State did not entail division of Assam. All they were asking for was that the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachhar Hills be merged to create an autonomous State within Assam. Assam would continue to have certain overriding powers.

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