Telangana state issue storm hits India, demand for separate state up

Guwahati, December 11: Spurred by New Delhi’s attempt at granting a separate Telangana state, several parties- big and small- and many citizens groups have created a storm, demanding acceptance of their old and new demands for creation of separate states.

In Andhra Pradesh itself, not to be left behind on the statehood issue, politicians from Rayalaseema region have demanded separate statehood for the backward region, saying they would agree to division of the state to create Telangana only if their demand for Greater Rayalaseema is acceded to.

Cutting across party lines, the leaders, including legislators from the ruling Congress, opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Praja Rajyam, made it clear that Andhra Pradesh could be divided only if their region was also made a separate state.

This would mean that the present state has to be divided into three states – Telangana, Greater Rayalaseema and Andhra.

Assam tribes’ and Ethnic groups in Assam have raised the banner of revolt with demands for separate states to be carved out of the region. Among the prominent groups that have already raised the issue of separate statehood are the Bodos, the Karbis, and the Dimasa tribes in Assam.

The first to raise the issue is the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), an ally of the ruling Congress party in Assam. “If Telangana can be carved out of Andhra Pradesh, why not a separate Bodoland in Assam,” BPF leader Hagrama Mohilary told IANS.

Similar demands were raised by the All Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dimasa People’s Council (DPC) for a ‘Dimaraji’ state – a separate state for the Dimasa tribe in Assam.

“The government earlier said a state within states was not good, but now with the central government agreeing for Telangana, we also feel we should get our rights. Dimaraji is not just a demand, it is a fact and our birth right,” Mrinal Kanti Phonglosa, DPC president, said.

The Karbi tribe in Assam has also raised a similar demand for a Karbi homeland.

The situation in Assam is more intricate as almost all the tribes demanding separate states are backed by militant groups – the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) seeking a separate Bodoland, the Dima Haolam Daogah (DHD) demanding a Dimaraji state, the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front seeking a Karbi homeland, besides several other small rebel groups fighting for similar demands.

–Agencies