HAFLONG, June 27 � Seeking cooperation of the mass people of Dima Hasao, the Separate Barak Demand Committee of Silchar led by Shuvadip Datta, general secretary of the organisation met Debojeet Thaosen, Chief Executive Member of Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, Haflong on Wednesday.
Datta explained about the possible mutual benefits for the people of these two adjacent areas, namely North Cachar Hills and Barak Valley, besides problems and prospects, since we are working for achieving a common goal, i.e., power to the people.
�In the real sense of the term, we hope to work together to do away with certain common hurdles. Both the Dima Hasao and Barak Valley have not seen any glaring difference between the pre and the post-independent era so far as our basic infrastructural uplift is concerned.�
�I don�t like to repeat the stale story of the broadgauge and the Mahasadak. However, we possess tremendous prospects of tourism, if conducted properly. To give this sector a boost, we propose that we organise a winter festival in 2014 itself�, Datta said.
Continuing, he said our committee has brought forth the demand for a separate Barak Valley and on July 21 next there will be a hunger strike in New Delhi in order to press forward our demand . We have shown that taking Silchar as the centre, most of the capitals of the North-eastern States stand within an orbit of around 350 kms. The Look East policy, if followed in letter and spirit, would usher in an era of rapid development to the so-long neglected people of Dima Hasao, Mizoram, Manipur Meghalaya and Tripura, he justified.
The alternative road and rail track from Kolkata via Bangladesh will provide us a safe and steady surface communication link, so essential for development. We are going to New Delhi with the hope that you would stand by us in making �our demands� heard and give a favourable response. We hope the new government at the national capital will try to look into our demands with compassion and understanding. The crisis at Dispur has exposed certain inherent limitations and this will favour our common cause.
After a patient hearing, CEM Thaosen assured him all possible help and support as the proposal, among other things, concerns betterment of the people of the district.
