Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association (GCPA) leader Ananta Roy (Maharaj) on Sunday said in the presence of BJP leaders, including Union minister of state for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, that Cooch Behar would be separated from Bengal “soon”.

Ananta Maharaj made the claim at a public meeting organised by his faction in the GCPA near the New Cooch Behar Railway football ground, about 8km from the district headquarters. The meeting was organised to mark the day when the Cooch Behar royals signed an accord for the inclusion of the princely state in the Indian union in 1949.

“Cooch Behar was an independent nation and we were not a slave to anyone. I would like to say one thing that Cooch Behar will soon become a state. The Indian government will have to make this part of the country a Union territory,” said Ananta Maharaj.

On the dais were Pramanik and Nikhil Dey, Cooch Behar BJP MP and MLA, respectively, and other leaders of the BJP and the GCPA.In his address, Pramanik said: “The accord was signed on this day for the inclusion of Cooch Behar in India but I would like to ask how Cooch Behar became a district from a (princely) state? The then Congress government did this and cheated the people of Cooch Behar.” the Union minister of state of home affairs said.

Pramanik also criticised Kamal Guha, the north Bengal development minister and Trinamul MLA of Dinhata. Guha had said he would break the knees of those who would demand the division of Bengal.“The people voted for you to become an MLA. You also became a minister. But now you are saying that you will break the knees of Rajbanshi people who have elected you. The people will not tolerate this,” Pramanik said.

Malati Rava, the BJP MLA of Tufangunj, also supported the GCPA leader’s demand. “The MLAs of north Bengal are always with you and always support your demand,” Rava said.

The GCPA leader reiterated before media persons after the public meeting that “Cooch Behar will soon become a separate state”.Asked about the remarks of the GCPA and BJP leaders, minister Guha said: “The BJP has failed throughout the state. We have said it again and again that we will not allow the separation. We will hit the streets against any such bid.”