On Thursday, APHLC President J.I. Kathar held a press conference regarding the 125th Amendment Bill of the Indian Constitution. The 125th Amendment Bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the current budget session of the Parliament. According to the 125th Amendment of the Constitution, Article 275 of the Indian Constitution will be repealed and integrated into Article 280.
Article 275 of the constitution mentions autonomous councils and autonomous states. Article 280 discusses the powers and financial resources of village panchayats, municipal committees, or municipal corporations. The government is now looking to revise and include all aspects of local self-governance in Article 280. If this amendment is passed in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, it will become law, and funds will be allocated to the councils accordingly. However, various parties and organizations have been opposing the implementation of the panchayat system in areas governed by autonomous councils.
Today, under the leadership of the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang, leaders of six rebel groups who signed an agreement will hold discussions with the Chief Minister in Dispur regarding the matter. They will specifically talk about including the powers mentioned in their Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) in this amendment. Meanwhile, APHLC leader John Ingti Kathar addressed a press conference, alleging that the government is attempting to curtail the powers of the council and expressed opposition to this move.
