Assam: ABSU, NDFB (P) Stage Protest Demanding a Separate Bodoland

Kokrajhar, August 8, 2019:

Intensifying the demand for a separate Boroland, several indigenous organizations are staging a protest at the Children's Park near DC Office in Kokrajhar district of Assam.

The three hours' sit in protest has been organized by the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), the National Democratic Front of Boroland (P), and the People's Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM).

It may be mentioned tha after the Indian Government’s announcement to abrogate Article 370 and 35A and bifurcate Kashmir into two Union Territories, indigenous organizations in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area have intensified their demand for a separate Boroland.

Approximately 5,000 people have turned out for the protest carrying placards bearing messages such as, "divide Assam 50/50", "Assam is unmanageable, come out Boroland from Assam".

While talking to this correspondent, ABSU General Secretary Lawrence Islary said: "The Government is solving everyone's problems, and that is why we have risen again. We shall not rest until and unless the Boroland issue is resolved once and for all."

The indigenous organizations have demanded the Government to bifurcate the State of Assam into two: Assam and Boroland.

Supporting the Government’s decision to scrap the Article 370, which provided separate constitutional safeguards to the people of Kashmir, the organizations stated that the Bodoland issue should be similarly resolved.

NDFB (P) leader Gobinda Basumatary said that “The agitations will continue until our demands are resolved", while ABSU leader Pramod Boro said that “Peace and prosperity will prevail once the BTAD area gets statehood.”

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