Cooch Behar, November 19 (Siliguri Chronicle) – The Kamtapur Progressive Party has announced a series of protests accusing the BJP-led central government of ignoring its long-standing demands.
The campaign will start with a march in Cooch Behar on November 22, before moving to other districts across north Bengal. The party also plans to stage sit-in demonstrations outside the homes of BJP MPs and MLAs in the region.
Chandan Singha, vice-president of the KPP — a party seen as having significant influence among the Rajbanshi community — said the decision to step up the movement was taken at the organisation’s central committee meeting in Cooch Behar on November 16.
“We will organise a march from Sagardighi in Cooch Behar on November 22 to protest against the central government, which has failed to fulfil any of its commitments to our (Rajbanshi/Kamtapuri) community,” Singha said here on Tuesday.
The KPP leader, who also serves as the party’s spokesperson, said that during the last Assembly and Parliamentary elections, BJP leaders — including Union home minister Amit Shah — had promised to include the Kamtapuri (Rajbanshi) language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
“We were also assured that our demand for a separate Kamtapur state would be considered. They had also promised the installation of the statues of Thakur Panchanan Barma and Chila Roy. Not a single promise has been honoured,” he said.
“In view of these unfulfilled assurances, we have decided to launch a sustained movement, beginning with the Cooch Behar rally. After completing district-level rallies, we will hold sit-in demonstrations in front of the residences of BJP MPs and MLAs,” Singha added.
