Rebel outfits to form common forum

Caesar Mandal, TNN 19 July 2009, 04:36am IST

KOLKATA: To spearhead the movement for a separate state comprising North Bengal and a portion of lower Assam, a new platform of ethnic groups in

the region is likely to surface at New Bongaigaon a town in lower Assam on Sunday afternoon.

Amidst the ongoing impasse on the Hills, the outfit may come as a nightmare for the administration as the leaders of the outfit have threatened to intensify the movement across North Bengal, which may singe the region all over again.

After a series of three meetings to form an united platform, represented by leaders of different camps of the local ethnic groups Gorkha, Koch and Bodo the new organization may be called the North East Democratic Alliance. There is a clear indication of an attempt to link up the decade-old ethnic problem of North Bengal with the ethnic strife-torn north-eastern states.

During the past three meetings held in Dinhata, Mathabhanga and Cooch Behar town in North Bengal, members of all major ethno-political parties active in the area, including the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the ones fighting for Kamtapur and Greater Cooch Behar, have agreed to drop any specific name for the separate state they are demanding.

"Our main aim is to get a piece of land as our new state. It was a unanimous decision to drop names like Kamtapur or Gorkhaland under the umbrella organization as it could create differences among us. We have a specific blueprint on the basis of which we would be able to convince each ethnic group fighting for separate land," said Shivaji Sarkar, who had played a significant role in the Greater Cooch Behar movement and is now acting as the convener of the organization.

Sarkar confirmed that on Sunday, in the presence of members from each organization, they would form the executive committee of the new outfit to be headed by the chief convener. Sources said three members from each group will represent the executive committee.

Biswajit Roy, another key person behind the unification programme, hinted that the Bodos another major group in Assam fighting for a separate state would support their movement. "Both Kochs and Bodos have the same origin and we are fighting for the same reason. I have spoken to their leaders who have assured me of joining us," said Roy, president of the All Assam Koch Rajbanshi Student's Union believed to be one of the powerful ethnic outfits in Assam.

Roy, however, extended his support to other groups, like Dimasa, which have been demanding similar status like the Kochs in North Cachar Hills clearly indicating the ongoing bonding between North Bengal and the North-East on the issue of ethnic identity.