Jyoti Lal Chowdhury, Silchar
Silchar: The decision taken by the Congress Working Committee to create another state of Telangana carved out of Andhra Pradesh has its expected fall-out in north-east region. This move of the UPA Government has been from all reckoning ill-advised and ill-timed, considering against the looming threat from China and the belligerent posture adopted by Pakistan.
The demands for separate states with particular reference to Assam are more or less identical. It is for the constitutional and political rights to protect the land, culture and identity and overall development. Allegations against Dispur, the citadel of power, are deprivation, neglect, discrimination and colonial treatment towards them. Barak Valley too has been demanding separation from Assam on this ground. Union Territory Demand Committee (UTDC) spearheading the movement for long, however, will be content with Union Territory status.
But, however justified and reasoned their demand for Bodoland, Hill State and Kamtapur, it will be interesting to know that their territorial jurisdiction clashes with one another. Kamtapur land transgresses well within Bodoland, 16 districts of Assam and 6 of West Bengal including Darjeeling that also clashes with the territorial area of Gorkhaland. Bodoland also claims territory in Tinsukia of upper Assam and Karbi Anglong.
All Bodo Students’ Union, Bodoland People’s Front, Bodo National Conference, National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the United Democratic People’s Front are fighting for Bodoland, the All Koch-Rajbongshi Students’ Union vouching for Kamtapur and Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State comprising the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao will have to settle their territorial jurisdiction first to demarcate their boundaries, say observers. It sends ominous signal for these various ethnic groups might get involved in fratricidal clashes and bloodshed over the issue.
Though the Constitution does have provision to create new State under amended Clause 3 which empowers the Parliament in this regard, Akhil Gogoi, president of Krishak Murti Sangram Samiti, has said that the monolithic and non inclusive Constitution prevented the progress and development of smaller indigenous groups. The most burning reason behind the demand for separation from Assam is the encroachment of land by Bangladeshis and the callous and indifferent attitude of both the Centre and the State towards the development of Bodos, Karbis, Dimasas and Koch-Rajbongshis.
It is for this reason that various other tribes in Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya have also joined the chorus for separation. Embers of simmering discontent among the tribes of Tripura are also reported. Kuki State Demand Committee in Manipur is also on the path of agitation. In order to assert its right over the Kuki inhabited areas of Manipur for a separate State, it called 48 hour general strike. United Naga Council, the apex body of Nagas living in Manipur, has been pressing for an autonomous administrative arrangement for Nagas. Both the Kuki and Naga organisations have threatened to boycott Independence Day celebrations.
As many as 4 districts, Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Kiphire in Nagaland, are on boil following open revolt by Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation which is pushing for a separate State known as ‘Frontier Nagaland.’ Garo Hills State Movement Committee has also become active and taken to agitation, demanding a separate “Garoland State” comprising all the five Garo hills districts of Meghalaya. All these bodies on agitation have made it clear that separate states are their ultimate dream within their respective areas.
Though the Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, has been holding parleys with all the groups and organisations on war path and even pushing them to New Delhi for dialogue with Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, it can be said that the fall out of Telangana, as seen from the trends and events, is hard to foretell, but its adverse impact on the socio-economic fabric can hardly be overlooked.
The State is reeling under the burgeoning problems of infiltration from across the border and the complex and complicated National Register of Citizens (NRC) update. The UPA Government, it has been alleged by well known political commentators and analysts, has taken the decision on Telangana under political expediency and compulsion and in view of the Lok Sabha elections of 2014.
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