Bureaucrat-turned-politician JI Kathar, who is contesting from Diphu Lok Sabha seat as an Independent, spoke to GPlus and explained how national parties like BJP and Congress buy votes.
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As you were a bureaucrat, when and how did you decide to join politics?
I joined politics not like the other politicians. First we enlightened the people in Karbi Anglong, most of whom don’t know law at all. We have the Sixth Schedule under the Constitution of India. But the autonomous council, the MLAs, members of council, chief executive member, none of them knew what was Sixth Schedule, so they started breaking it up from 1952 itself. We got the Sixth Schedule on November 3, 1951, and from 1952 they started to break it without knowing what they were doing. Due to that our people became very poor. Now 90% of houses of the Karbis and tribal people in Karbi Anglong are still made of bamboo and mud plaster. The floors are earthen floors. The children live like that. That's the reason why so many children die. Our population is decreasing. The influx from Bangladesh through Tripura, Bengal, Barak Valley and also from Bihar continues. Bihar is still alright because they are Indians, but in the Sixth Schedule under Para 20 it is a tribal area, that is protected for the tribals. But we have never been able to protect ourselves because we don't follow the Sixth Schedule at all,
You were a bureaucrat and know how the government works, why didn't you join a national party like Congress or BJP?
I was offered the post of District President of BJP in 2011, but I refused it. Also, I was called to join the Congress, but I had to refuse it too. Be it BJP or any other party, they have their command and the local people of Karbi Anglong cannot do anything without the permission of the high command. Added to this is the ignorance of law of the leaders in Karbi Anglong so people are very much afraid of the high command.
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For a long time national parties like Congress or BJP are ruling the region, the autonomous councils to be precise, in the absence of any structured regional party. How do you think you will win as an independent candidate?
We are independent, but we have a party (All Party Hill Leaders Conference). It is a regional party among the opposition parties in Karbi Anlong, this is the strongest. We defeated the Congress and now we are going to defeat the BJP. If we can defeat the BJP then we will be able to rule this part of the country according to law. Not according to the high command. So far it is done according to the high command although many of them are not bad, but people are so ignorant they are always afraid of them. So they couldn't do it according to the demands of the people.
Karbi Anglong is a place where money matters, where money is given to the voters, or liquor. How are you managing?
This is one of the reasons why we are holding on to regional parties, because Congress in the beginning demoralised the people. They purchased votes with liquor, tamul, Rs 100–200. It is happening now also. BJP is doing more than Congress. They are buying people. And we are telling the people if they succumb to such temptations then our land, race, tribes, will get lost. See, in 2007, the Indian army after surveying Karbi Anglong, reported it as a lost district, because the level of awareness is extremely low. Who has done this? Who made people so unaware and ignorant? It is the leaders in the Congress and who are in the BJP. They have demoralised the tribal people. They think only eating, drinking, and some money can constitute an election. Now we are explaining to people what an election is, laws relating to elections, and find out the best person who will represent us in the council, in the assembly and in Parliament. The Karbi people, Kukis, Dimasas and others understood it and accepted it. That's the reason why we are hoping to win the elections without play of money
You are contesting against BJP and Congress candidates. What factors do you think will make people vote for you?
In 1951, Karbis constituted 88%, and all tribes together was 96%. And non-tribals, especially Assamese and Adivasis, were 4%. Now due to the influx of Bangladeshis - both Muslims and Hindus - and people from Bihar, tribals are reduced to a minority. So the people are now aware that if they go on playing politics, the type of politics played by the BJP and Congress then we will lose our land, tribe, race. This has made them to strongly decide to vote for a regional party. The party is courageous enough to speak out the truth; Congress never spoke about it. BJP is too frightened to speak about the loss of land rights. Only the regional party can do it. We are speaking and bringing out books and distributing. These books are all about laws which have helped them decide to vote for us, to protect the tribe, their rights and their land.
As a bureaucrat you were deputed in Bodoland, they had the same issue. Boros also demanded a separate state. In your election speeches you are saying you require a different state, will it ever happen?
No, we are not demanding a separate state. We are demanding for Karbis along with Dimasas, an autonomous state under Article 244 A of the Constitution of India. Boros didn’t demand an autonomous state. They demanded independence outside India. After that they demanded a separate state of 50-50. Assam should be divided 50-50. We are not demanding that. The tribal people here are demanding only an autonomous state under Article 244 A. We will remain in Assam.
What is the guarantee that tomorrow if you are elected, you will not go and compromise with the national parties? BPF and UPPL have always listened to the national parties in alliance.
I will not do it because I am not bound to. I am not bound by corruption, crimes, like Hagrama; Pramod Boro is like he is bound by some, I don't want to say. So they can't speak out and if they don't remain with the ruling party they will be arrested. They will be in prison. They may be executed also. They cannot open their mouths for that reason. I am not like that I have never committed any crime.
You are popular in Karbi Anglong, but how are you managing votes in Dima Hasao?
They are having the same problem as us, they understand us, they are demanding for a separate autonomous state, or maybe with more power but are given with less power. Their autonomous council is reduced to a gaon panchayat. So they are against it very much.
If you win, to be in the government you will have to stitch an alliance with BJP or with Congress. Which party will you prefer?
For me we will not align with the BJP. But with the INDIA bloc, we are a member of the alliance. Although Congress has contested against us now, we know that the party’s candidate is stronger than than BJP’s. He was in BJP two months ago, but made to resign to make him stand as a Congress candidate in order to divide the vote of the tribal people. He has been put up by Congress high command. He actually is a BJP. It is destructive politics. It should be good politics.
How confident are you about winning the elections?
Very much. 90% tribal people are with us.
Regarding Assam and India, what are your calculations?
For us, I have not gone into the calculations at a deep level because there are others who will do that but one thing I can say is that in the INDIA bloc we have decided we will fight against CAA, UCC and such other destructive laws. If I win, I will fight. Even if we don't win, I will still fight.
