GUWAHATI: The Barak Democratic Front (BDF) has kicked off a comprehensive campaign to carve out a separate Barak from Assam. The leaders of the BDF announced their intentions to distribute 5 lakh books providing historical, geographical, social, economic, and political justifications for the separation, as per media reports.
The campaign will not be confined to pamphlets and literature alone; the BDF plans to traverse all villages in the Barak Valley and neighbouring states such as Tripura, Mizoram, and Meghalaya.
The objective is to garner support from diverse communities, including Bengali Hindus and Muslims, Manipuri, and Dimasa. Scheduled meetings with respective chief ministers in these regions are also on the agenda, as stated by media reports.
Pradip Dutta Roy, the chief convener of the BDF, confidently stated to the media that they have garnered support from "all quarters," even alleging backing from some leaders within the BJP, Congress, and CPM who, according to Roy, "cannot express it directly."
Dutta Roy, in a bold move, has challenged the state government with a proposal that could potentially change the course of the movement.
"Give us a referendum! If 90% of people vote against it, we'll withdraw," he declared, putting the onus on the government to address the growing demands for a separate Barak.
The development comes at a time when the region has witnessed other political activities, including a visit by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat to Majuli amid reports of religious conversions and the recent arrest of two ULFA-I cadres in Tinsukia.
