NEW DELHI, Nov 14 - The government must evolve a national policy and frame regulations for creation of new states in accordance with the provisions of Part I of the Constitution of India.
This was resolved at a symposium on �New States Answer to Disparity and Political Exploitation� held at the Constitution Club of India here on Wednesday. Creation of small states will be a fulfilment of long-standing constitutional demand of the people seeking separate statehood, the symposium resolved.
The symposium was organised by the National Federation for New States (NFNS) which is demanding creation of eight news states � Bodoland, Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, Kukiland, Karbi State, Tipraland, Bundelkhand and Poorvanchal.
The ABSU has, meanwhile, threatened to hold a series of mass rallies, hunger strikes, indefinite blockade of railways and highways, if no early solution is reached on creation of a separate state for the Bodo community.
The resolution said that fulfilment of this long-standing demand is the only way to ameliorate the prevalent political, social and economic disparity of the regions demanding separate statehood.
The NFNS calls upon all political parties, regional as well as national, to engage with the idea of creation of new states in the country, keeping in mind the letter and spirit of Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of India.
The NFNS also resolved to continue its united movement and demand for creation of new states in a democratic and non-violent manner, and in accordance with the provisions of Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of India.
Addressing the symposium, ABSU president Pramod Boro said India is a country of very high population, and so, it will be difficult to provide right to equality to the citizens living in every nook and cranny unless the authority of governance is decentralised. There is disparity not only in terms of economic and infrastructure development in the country but also in terms of sociocultural aspect.
�The Bodoland movement has taught us a good lesson, now Bodos of the world are united for the cause of Bodoland state and our movement is heading towards achieving the goal... and now after losing 5,000 lives and more than 25,000 jailed, it is now the government�s turn to give the answer and the answer is creation of a new state � Bodoland,� he said.
The Bodos are demanding immediate policy decision to create a new state for the Bodo community along with land and political rights to the Bodos living outside the proposed Bodoland area, besides the Scheduled Tribe (Hill) status to the Bodos living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts.
�To counter the so-called mainstream politics by some opportunist individuals, we must be united and raise our collective voice as much as we can as it is already too late. If these are not resolved in time, some culturally rich communities may also lose their identity and become part of uncultured groups of people,� he said.
