Statehood body will review NDA support
Bogged down by indifferent response of the Centre, the National Federation of New States ( NFNS) — conglomeration of organisations demanding separate states across the country has threatened to review their stand on supporting the BJP ahead the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 while accusing that the NDA has failed to live up to its promise of creating new states.
The organisations fighting for creation of Bodoland, Twipraland, Karbi State, Gorkhaland, Vidarbha among others are part of NFNS.
The NFNS president Shreehari Aney who was here said, “On July 26 we will have our core committee meeting in New Delhi where our different constituents spearheading the separate state movements across the country will take the decision on whether to go with the NDA, or with the Congress- led opposition block or maintain our independent stand in the 2019 general elections.”
Mr Aney clarified that even if the organisations decide to stay away from supporting either NDA or the opposition block, it will create an electoral impact for both the political formations in places where the movement for separate states is still going on.
“There are seven to eight states where the demand for creation of separate state is strong, and can affect electoral outcomes if the organizations decide not to support any of the political blocks,” Mr Aney claimed.
The NFNS leaders on Friday held consultations with northeast- based organizations who are fighting for the separate states.
Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura ( IPFT), one of the constituents of NFNS and also an ally of BJP government in Tripura, said that its separate Twipraland demand is inalienable and the party will discuss the issue during the July 26 meeting.
“Even if we are with the BJP in Tripura government, our demand for separate Twipraland is still there. The Centre has also assured us of looking into our demand. So, we will discuss all the pros and cons within our party ahead of the July 26 meeting,” IPFT youth wing general secretary, Sukla Charan Noatia said.
The All Bodo Students Union ( ABSU) president, Pramode Boro said that in 2014 parliamentary elections, the organisations demanding separate state had backed BJP because it supported the creation of new smaller states.
Regretting the response of the BJP after formation nof the government at the Centre, Mr Boro pointed out, “In four years, the BJP government at the Centre has put the new states creation proposals in cold storage. Nothing progressed on the formation of new states. Be it Boroland or Gorkhaland, BJP has ditched its promise. So there is a need to have a relook at whether it will help fulfilling the separate state aspiration by supporting the BJP.” It is significant that ABSU has been spearheading a powerful peaceful movement in Western Assam for separate Bodoland state.