The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has decided to take its movement for separate State to New Delhi. The powerful students’ body has chalked out its next phase of agitation for Statehood and said that thousands of members of the students’ body will take part in a sit-in demonstration in New Delhi on December 12 and December 13 this year.
Absu president Promod Boro said this on Friday and added that the National Federation for New States (NFNS) activists will also participate in the programme along with leaders of various Bodo organisations demanding a separate State for the Bodos in Assam.
“The Bodos have been agitating for its legitimate demand for a separate State. We have organised several protest programmes in Assam recently, including highway bandh and Rail Roko programmes. However, the Government in Dispur and New Delhi are yet to respond to our demand,” said Boro, while adding that the students’ body would also sit for an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi soon.
“The Bodos want protection of their identity, language and culture and that is the reason we have been demanding for a separate State. The Central Government has created States like Telengana and Uttrakhand. So why there cannot be a separate State for the Bodos,” he asked.
He also slammed the BJP government at the Centre and Dispur and said that the BJP had promised to look into the demands of the Bodos before the 2014 lok Sabha polls and ahead of the 2016 Assam legislative assembly polls. “However, after assuming powers in Delhi and Dispur, they have forgot their promises,’ he said.