The Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP), known to have considerable clout among the Rajbanshi population of north Bengal, plans to renew its statehood demand with a rally on August 3.
The party formed by Atul Roy around two decades back also seeks recognition of Kamtapuri (Rajbanshi) language by the central government.
Roy died last year and there was a slackening in political activities of the party.
“After the demise of our founding president, this is the first time that we will hit the streets with our longstanding demand for the separate Kamtapur state,” said Budharu Roy, the vice-president of the KPP, here on Saturday.
The party, he said, will hold a rally here on August 3 and send a 14-point charter of demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the subdivisional officer.
In its memorandum, the KPP will also state its other demands, such as the establishment of an AIIMS in north Bengal, the declaration of the region as a special economic zone and issuance of inner-line permits for visitors in north Bengal.
“In the coming days, we have planned to intensify our movement and will take up a number of political activities. There will be protest marches, sit-ins in various locations. If required, we will even go to Delhi to flag our demands,” said a party leader.
In north Bengal, along with the KPP, another faction of the party and the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association, which also has two factions, are the principal proponents for the demand of a separate statehood.
