The Kamtapur State Demand Council (KSDC), a forum comprising representatives of different organisations of Rajbanshis, has demanded that the Centre immediately initiate peace talks with Jibon Singha, the self-styled chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), a proscribed terror outfit.

“We want the Centre to start peace talks with Jibon Singha and also take initiatives to meet our longstanding demands of the separate Kamtapur state and the recognition of the Kamtapuri (Rajbanshi) language,” Kangsharaj Barman, the Cooch Behar district president of the council, said.

Barman, along with some other representatives of the council, said they would wait till the middle of next month.

“Years have passed and yet, our demand has not been met. We will wait till August 15 and if the Centre doesn’t make any move by then, we will launch an extensive movement throughout north Bengal,” he added.

Singha, the KLO leader, had entered Assam from Myanmar in January last year, in response to a proposal for peace talks mooted by the Centre.

The reiteration of the old demand (of a separate Kamtapur state) comes at a time when similar demands have been raised from different quarters.

District Trinamool Congress leaders, when mentioned about the council’s demand, blamed the BJP for the situation.

“BJP is trying to foment tension across north Bengal. Our stand is very clear. We are principally against any further division of the state,” said a senior Trinamool leader.