IN PICS: Bodos storm Guwahati; demand separate state

Even as the United Progressive Alliance government in the Centre is finding it hard to find an amicable solution to the raging Telangana statehood movement in the South, the Bodo tribe community in Northeast has revived its long-standing demand for a separate state to be carved out of the state of Assam. K Anurag reports.

Over 15,000 people from the tribe on Friday held a rally at the sprawling parade ground at Amingaon in outskirt of Guwahati city on the occasion of 25th anniversary of Bodoland Statehood movement that was started this day in 1987 to press for their demand for a separate state for the Bodo people in Assam.

The rally was organised by the All Bodo Students Union, which spearheads the movement. The demonstrators from the community vowed not to rest till their demand for a separate state was met with by the government.

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Addressing the rally, ABSU president Promode Bodo said, "Our demand for statehood dates back to 1987, and we are closely watching what decision the UPA government takes about the Telangana statehood movement.

"We won't rest if we don't get Bodoland. We are prepared for a prolonged phase of peaceful mass movement."

The people held placards shouting no Bodoland no rest, Divide Assam 50-50, and cheered the leader when he said the UPA government should start a dialogue for Bodoland as they had initiated process of formation of new state in the national level.

"Any isolated decision on creation of a new state in any part of the country including Telangana region will not be tolerated. There must be a comprehensive policy for formation of new states," he said.

Bodo said that the students body would be compelled to resort to non-violent movement and call for even 1,000 hour bandh if the Union government continues to ignore the Bodo statehood demand.

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"The government created three new states in 2000, then why not a Bodoland?" the ABSU leader said.

The Bodo tribe which has a population of about 20 lakh on north bank of Brahmaputra River in Assam, demands a separate state in the area for being the single largest ethnic group inhabiting that stretch of Assam.

The ABSU leaders said community had been disillusioned over the Bodoland Territorial Council which was granted in 2003 as per Bodo Peace Accord, for its failure to spur overall development of the tribe.

Meanwhile, other Bodo civil society groups and political parties too have raised the pitch of the Bodos' long-standing demand for a separate state much to the discomfort of the incumbent Assam government which maintains that it is in principle not in favour of creation of any more state disturbing the present geographical boundary of Assam.