ASSAM: TRIBAL STUDENTS BODIES DENY COMMITTING SUPPORT FOR ‘BARAK’ STATE

14 July 2018

Days after the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association (ACKHSA) raised the demand for separate “Barak” state over issues pertaining to National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and claimed that it was in touch with the Bodos, the Karbis and the Dimasas, apex student bodies of the three communities on Saturday categorically made it clear that they did not endorse the demand of the ACKHSA.

ACKHSA founder president Pradeep Dutta Roy claimed that the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), the Karbi Students’ Association (KSU) and the All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU) had pledged their support for the cause.

However, while speaking to InsideNe, ABSU president Promod Bodo denied having comitted any support to the ACKHSA. He said: “They need to have a valid issue to demand separate state and it has to be recognised by the All India Forum. Only then, the demand for separate state will be noted. The ABSU is fighting for separate Bodoland state for years. The NRC and the Citizenship Bill have nothing to do with our demand”.

Samson Teron, president of KSU, said: “I have no knowlege regarding the statement and I did not talk to anyone regarding the issue”. He also said that “our statehood demand is long-standing”.

ADSU general secratary, Mairing Johori, said: “I have no information regarding the issue. Our demand for separate state does not relate to NRC or Citizenship Bill. And no such assurance will be given without the consent of our central committee. We have openly opposed the Citizenship Bill and participated in mass satyagraha along with All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)”.