Jalpaiguri: All Kamtapur Students Union’s Rail Roko agitation angry against BJP led Center
All Kamtapur Students Union (AKSU), a youth forum of Rajbanshis demanding a new Kamtapur state, staged a rail roko in Jalpaiguri district on Friday and expressed their grievances against the BJP-led Center over no progress on the issue. .
Leaders of the forum, which has considerable influence among the Rajbanshi population in North Bengal, demanded that the Narendra Modi government come together and initiate peace talks with Jibon Singha, the self-styled chief of the banned terrorist organization Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO). Decision on their main demand.
The blockade disrupted railway services across North Bengal. Vande Bharat Express leaving from New Jalpaiguri for Guwahati was delayed by about three hours.
Additionally, several long distance trains were stopped at various stations as hundreds of AKSU supporters walked on the tracks near the Jaldhaka rail bridge between New Mainaguri and Dhupguri stations, the major rail route that connects the Northeast with the rest of the country. That is, placards and banners.
AKSU president Kaushik Barman said Singha had reached Assam about a year ago because he had been assured by the BJP government at the Center and Assam that they would sit for peace talks to decide on the demand for Kamtapur statehood.
“Nothing has happened since January last year. We are fed up with the empty promises of BJP and want to make it clear that if the Center does not take any action by next month, we will intensify our agitation.”
Hundreds of passengers traveling in 11 long-distance trains faced inconvenience, but the blockade continued. The protesters raised anti-Centre slogans and accused the BJP of attracting votes by making false promises.
“BJP did nothing for the Rajbanshis and entire North Bengal. He gave long assurances of considering our old demand only to attract votes. Such empty promises will not work this time,” Barman said.
The blockade, which started at 7 am and was scheduled to last till 7 pm, was, however, reduced at 10 am as officials of the Alipurduar division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) spoke to the protesters at the spot. Teams of Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police reached there.
“We are withdrawing the blockade as the railway authorities have assured us that they will convey our demand to the concerned areas,” the AKSU president said.
Trains resumed on the route at around 10.15 am.
NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi Dey said they have registered a case against the protesters.
When contacted, Jalpaiguri BJP MP Jayant Roy said, “As far as the demand for recognition of Kamtapuri language is concerned, these organizations have been told that it is under consideration of the Centre. I cannot comment on their demand for statehood.”
A political observer said the blockade indicated the simmering grievances against the BJP in North Bengal. He said, though the BJP-led Center has sanctioned funds for major infrastructure projects in North Bengal, it has not fulfilled some of the old demands.
