GUWAHATI: Getting frustrated at the inaction on part of the BJP-led government at the Centre to resolve the vexed issue over demand for a separate state for the Bodo tribe in Assam, the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and its allies have announced a new phase of non-violent movement from October 10 next to press for their demand.
The ABSU and its allies National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive) and People’s Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement (PJACBM) will resort to 12-hour railway blockade on October 10 besides announcing indefinite economic blockade from the first week of November and a mass hunger strike in November.
“The BJP before the 2014 Lok Sabha election promised to resolve the issue of Bodoland state demand if voted to power and got the support from us in the election. But after coming to power in the Centre the party has not done anything concrete to create a new state for us. The situation in Bodoland is now very conducive with militants’ groups in ceasefire mode and supporting the statehood movement, still the Centre has not shown sincerity to exploit the peaceful atmosphere to resolve the issue. We are under pressure from out people to go for intensive agitation again,” ABSU president Promode Bodo said here on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in support of the Bodoland state demand, S G Aney, the president of the National Federation of New States (NFNS) said here, “The ruling BJP in the Centre has failed to live up to the promise made by it before the last general election to resolve numerous demands for creation of new states in various regions of the country and the party will face stiff opposition in the next election in 2019 if fails to take convincing steps to address demands for new states.
He said a holistic national policy must be put in place to deal with the demands for new states as per the provisions enshrined in the Constitution. The next national convention of the NFNS to be held on October 14 and 15 will demand a White paper from the BJP government at the Centre on its stand on the issue of creation of new states.
“The BJP has not even taken the basic step as laid down in the Article 2,3and 4 of the Constitution for creation of new states. It has not brought up the matter in the Parliament as yet though the party has overwhelming majority in Lok Sabha and its position has improved much in Rajya Sabha. It is a matter of concern for us. The party is apparently avoiding the issue and that has created doubt in our minds about its sincerity to deal with the issue despite the promises made by it before the last general election,” the NFNS leader said.
He stated that the BJP-led NDA government should not try to create a situation where Telangana-type violent agitations crop up to press for demands of new states. “When the law of the land tells you (Central government) how to create a new state, then why should innocent people die fir it. Over 1200 young people died for the cause of Telangana state. I don’t believe in making innocent people sacrifice their precious life for an issue whose solution is well demarcated in the Constitution of the India. What is required is the sincere political will on part of the Centre for greater interests of the communities demanding separate states,” Aney said.