Demand for Bodoland grows, activists stage dharna at Jantar-Mantar

New Delhi, Aug 7: A large number of people today staged a dharna demanding formation of Bodoland, as the 30th state of the country.
Hundreds of Bodoland activists protests for about three hours here at Jantar Mantar road and vociferously shouted slogans-’We Want Bodoland’, ‘If Telangana Why Not Bodoland’, and ‘No Bodoland-No Rest’.
Bodoland People’s Front Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary, who yesterday met Prime Minister and demanded that two Union minister should be immediately sent to the region for the ground assessment, made his presence felt at the rally.
He said the way the government was considerate towards the aspirations of Telangana’s supporters it would be better if they (government) show same generosity towards us.
”After all we are Indians too. There should be no discrimination”, he said.
While clearing the mist surrounding the constituent districts of their ‘yet to be approved’ state he said apart from Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang they want parts of Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Tinsukia. It would be about 25,000 square kilometer with population nearing one crore.
In view of the declining economy of the country, he said formation of new states would be a difficult task but claimed that infrastructure is already present within the proposed boundary for Bodoland.
Independent activist, Baba R K Dev president of Federation of New Smaller States who was also present at the support rally opined that though it is time for second state reorganisation commission but demands for bifurcation of Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Bodoland, and Gorkhaland should be met immediately. (UNI)

Bodo leaders meet PM, demand separate homeland
Bodo leaders met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today in support of their demand for a separate homeland. The Prime Minister did not give any assurance to them but gave them a ”patient hearing,” sources said.
Ever since the Centre announced a separate state of Telangana, demands for separate states have gained momentum in many parts of the country. Anti-Telangana Members of Parliament have disrupted Parliament ever since the Monsoon Session began on August 5.