By our special correspondent
NEW DELHI: The National Level Seminar titled, “ Issues of Separate States in India: Problems and Perspectives,” .organised by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) at the Constitution Club, Delhi deliberated on statehood demands of Bodoland, Telengana, Vidarbha, Brij Pradesh, Poorvanchal and Gorkhaland. Delegates from across the country cutting across party lines shared their views.
Chairperson of the seminar, former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma said, “As long as sovereignty of India is accepted, why should we be scared of small states – let there be five hundred!” This Sangma said is necessary for the northeast where the indigenous communities are yet to understand the concept of State, and were democratically governing themselves.
. Sangma suggested a confederation of tribes within the federation of India stating that he has always supported the demand and aspirations of smaller states.
Eminent journalist and former Rajya Sabha member Kuldip Nayyar, though supportive of smaller states, questioned the timing of the demands as he felt that the nation is going through trying times and might distract the attention of the Centre.
Pushkar Raj, General Secretary of People’s Union for Civil Liberties proposed that if the idea of separate states is good it should not be delayed.
“We in India always tend to postpone important decisions, creating more problems. I would support the need to have a new States Reorganisation Commission urgently,” Pushkar Raj added.
Chandan Mitra, senior journalist and Member of the Rajya Sabha said, “It is the most opportune time to raise the demand as Telengana has reached a critical state and the UP Assembly’s latest resolution has made the topic very relevant.”
Dr G Vinod Kumar of the Joint Action Committee for Telengana said, “The Brahminical and ruling forces are scared to share power with the non-brahmins and the indigenous people of the country as they too are convinced that that small states will lead to more participation of the backward classes and tribes. But unless we agree to the scientific principles outlined by Dr Ambedkar for the division of India into smaller states, the people of India will be prevented from contributing to the vision of India that the founding fathers had.”
UG Brahma, former Rajya Sabha member said “Unless there is a National Policy on Smaller States, whether through a SRC or without, the time has come to clearly organise a National level Campaign to demand a new policy for Smaller States.,”
Intellectuals like Janaklal Basumatary and Mangal Sing Hazuary highlighted the contributions of the Bodo community in the growth of India said they had a right to their aspiration to live by their own genius.