In a dramatic display of dissent, members of the ASDC Youth Wing gathered on the main road in Diphu on Monday morning around 10 a.m., where they burned an effigy of J.I. Kathar, the president of the APHLC. This protest follows a press conference held by Kathar, in which he called for refuge to be granted to Kukis who have fled to Karbi Anglong district due to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.
The demonstration was charged with emotion, as protesters shouted slogans including “Down with J.I. Kathar,” “J.I. Kathar Go Back,” and “J.I. Kathar Down Down.” This vocal opposition underscores the growing tensions surrounding the issue of refugee resettlement in the region, reflecting deep-seated concerns among local youth about the implications of Kathar’s proposals.
Speaking to reporters during the protest, Gulshan Bey the financial secretary of the ASDC Youth Wing, expressed the group’s firm stance against what they described as illegal settlements in Karbi Anglong. “We do not recognize those who have illegally entered and settled in our district,” Bey asserted, emphasizing that Kathar’s approach to the situation is perceived as political opportunism. He accused the APHLC leader of exploiting tribal rights for personal and political gain, particularly by granting voting and land rights to those they consider infiltrators.
Bey comments reflect a broader sentiment among local youth who feel that their rights and resources may be compromised by the influx of outsiders. He pointed out that many of these so-called infiltrators reside along the Assam-Nagaland border and within various areas of Karbi Anglong, aggravating existing tensions in an already volatile environment.
