Reaction to Kamatapur Autonomous Council for Koch Rajbongshis Mixed

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: “Even if we’re not fully happy, we welcome the Cabinet decision for Kamatapur Autonomous Council,” stated Biswajit Rai, the general secretary of the Koch-Rajbongshi National Convention.

The Convention welcomed the decision taken by the State Cabinet and said that the decision has recognized the decades-long agitations of Koch-Rajbongshis.

Addressing a press conference at Dispur Press Club on Sunday, Biswajit Rai said, “The Kamatapur Autonomous Council will be the starting point towards a separate Kamatapur State. We welcome Cabinet decision, but we can’t feel the happiness, because the Cabinet decision has failed to make us feel sure of the security of all the Koch-Rajbongshis spread in different parts of the State.”

Rai said, “It is mentioned that the Autonomous Council will be formed with the undivided Goalpara district. When we talk of undivided Goalpara, we get only Bongaigaon and Dhubri district, because parts of Goalpara district are already included in the Rabha-Hasong Autonomous Council, while Kokrajhar and Chirang districts are under BTAD. So, the decision that the Cabinet has taken regarding the formation of the Kamatapur Autonomous Council will only cover two districts. Our survey says that the proposed autonomous council will be able to cover only around 5 lakh of the around 70 lakh Koch-Rajbongshis staying in the State. So, we’re not sure as to how this autonomous council will secure the rights of 70 lakh Koch Rajbongshis. A few moot questions are – the Koch-Rajbongshis in the BTAD are already facing a lot of problems in case of land rights. We appeal to the government for the revision of the Bodo Accord to ensure the security of the Koch Rajbongshis in the Bodo politico administrative setup, Tiwa Autonomous Council, Missing Autonomous Council and other autonomous councils.”

Rai added, “We appeal to the government to make it sure that the proposed Kamatpur Autonomous Council will be formed with a university, an Engineering College, a Medical College, a Nursing College, Bir Silarai Suraksha Bahini for all-round development of language , literature, sports and culture. Otherwise the Kamatapur Autonomous Council under the Government of Assam will remain only as a regime to set up political leaders.”

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