Students body opposes proposed bifurcation of Dima Hasao on communal lines

The All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU) on February 18, strongly opposed the proposed division of Dima Hasao district into two separate districts on a communal basis, demanding that the State government make public the details of recent discussions on the issue within 72 hours.

Addressing a press conference at the union’s office in Haflong, ADSU president Aurajit Kemprai said the organisation would never accept the bifurcation of the district along communal lines. He alleged that the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum (IPF) has been pressing for the division of Dima Hasao into two districts.

According to Kemprai, a meeting was held on February 13 at Janata Bhawan in Dispur between State Minister Pijush Hazarika and representatives of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, Indigenous Students’ Forum and Indigenous Women’s Forum to discuss the matter. A subsequent meeting was also held with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and representatives of the three organisations.

The ADSU expressed resentment that no representative from any Dimasa student or social organisation was invited to participate in the discussions. Kemprai said any future meetings on the proposed bifurcation must include representatives of Dimasa organisations.
He warned that if the government fails to disclose the outcome of the discussions within 72 hours, the union would announce its next course of action on Sunday.

The ADSU president further stated that despite the long-standing demand for the creation of a separate “Dimaraji” state, the government has not held any formal discussions with Dimasa organisations. He also alleged that several clauses of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the government and both factions of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) militant groups remain unimplemented.

It may be noted that since March 30, 2010, when the then Congress government renamed North Cachar Hills district as Dima Hasao, the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum has been demanding its bifurcation. The issue had earlier triggered unrest in the district.