DIPHU, Oct 28 � Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju has made it clear that the Centre did not have any policy for creation of separate or autonomous States at the moment.
This was disclosed by former MLA of Bokajan and present Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) Jagat Sing Engti at a press conference here.
He said Kiren Rijiju had also told a delegation of the Hills State Democratic Party (HSDP) that Darjeeling returned a BJP MP twice on a similar issue, but the BJP Government had not taken up the issue for consideration till now.
The HSDP delegation had also submitted a memorandum demanding creation of a separate State comprising the two autonomous hill districts of Assam on Wednesday in New Delhi. The HSDP has been steering the movement for creation of an entirely separate State detached from Assam.
The significance of the meeting between the HSDP delegation and the Union minister is likely to have a negative impact on the JACAS which is now leading the agitation on the same issue. The HSDP, which received lukewarm response from the Centre on the statehood issue, has expressed surprise at the predicament faced by the JACAS which had allied itself with the BJP during the recent Lok Sabha election.
