An Assam-based political outfit on Wednesday demanded statehood for the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley in the northeastern state, alleging deprivation, and seeking socio-cultural and linguistic security, besides development.
The Barak Democratic Front, while seeking the support of the people of Bengal, demanded the new state in the territory that is home to around 42 lakh people residing in districts such as Karimganj, Cachar and Hailakandi.
The Front’s demand followed Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement suggesting the willingness of his government to discuss the proposal for Barak Valley’s statehood if the people in the region so desired.
“Our demand for separation of Barak Valley is not a demand for establishing a Bengali state in any sense. Although Bengalis are the majority here, there are many other communities, including tea tribes, Dimasa, Manipuri, Bishnupriya, Khasi and Kuki, all of whom are victims of socio-economic deprivation,” said the outfit’s chief convener Pradip Dutta Roy at a media conference in the Calcutta Press Club.
Dutta Roy said the media conference in Calcutta was to appeal to the people of Bengal and the rest of the country to support the “just” demand.
“The proposed state of ours will be an initiative to ensure the linguistic and cultural security of every community and the development of every community on equal footing,” he added.
The Front claimed all 15 MLAs of the region, including those of the ruling BJP, were in favour of the demand. “The full development of tremendous potentials of the truly gifted valley can only be possible through the right of self-determination. We are therefore determined to go ahead with our demand for statehood of Barak Valley supported by all communities.”
”We are discriminated against in so many ways. We are kept from government jobs, our mother tongue is not recognised as an official language. Our factories were forcibly shut,” said Dutta Roy.
The Congress had condemned the demand in the past, saying Assam had already experienced several divisions.
