Guwahati:
The Centre's decision on Telengana has revived old statehood demands in Assam. The Bodo demand for a separate state has turned into a full blown insurgency as they now want a Bodoland. The Dimasas have also taken up arms for separate statehood demanding Dimaraji.
"If government could sanction separate state to Jharkhand, Uttarkhand, Chattisgarh and now Telengana, then in the same line, Bodoland separate state demand has been a long standing demand. It's genuine economically, socially, politically, educationally, so that we become more advanced. Hence, it's an urgent matter for Bodo people," said K Basumatary, Chief Whip, Bodoland People's Front.
Its not just statehood but Assam has been resisting Sovereignty demands by at least two armed outfits, ULFA and NDFB.
However, chief minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi says he is not in favour of splitting up the state.
"That has been there for. Not only Bodoland, Ujani Assam Ahoms are demanding, Kamtapur, they are demanding, N C Hills is demanding, its not new. But our case is we are not in favour of splitting the state," said Gogoi.
Not only Bodoland and Dimaraji or ULFA's sovereignty, every tribe here wants to assert their rights.
Mrinal Hazarika, Pro-talks Faction, ULFA said, "in Assam every tribe and ethnicity has raised demands for their own aspirations. If all demands are taken into account, Assam will not exist. So that's why regional federation is a solution If that is not given then secessionist tendencies can develop."