Barak Valley will separate from Assam if the region is not excluded from proposed delimitation : BDF

Despite the protests over the delimitation draft, there has been no response from the government so far. If it is decided to finalise the draft, then Barak Valley should be excluded from its ambit, demanded the Barak Democratic Front.

In a press release, BDF Chief Convener Pradip Dutta Roy said that the residents of Barak will not accept this draft delimitation proposal under any circumstances. Because if this draft is implemented, then the Valley will lose its political rights for the next 30 years. The way in which Barak’s two assembly seats have been cut in this draft and the way in which places of one constituency have been added to another unconnected constituency by ignoring all rules of delimitation, the very existence of Barak will be on the verge of danger if it is implemented. Therefore, he commented that the 45 lakh people of Barak will not accept the draft under any circumstances.

Dutta Roy also said that the government has told on one hand that the draft has been prepared by the Election Commission and they have no hand in it. On the other hand, the Chief Minister is saying that the rights of the ‘Khilonjiyas’ of the state will be protected through this draft. This will maintain the dominance of Khilonjiyas in 102 assembly seats for the next 30 years. Dutta Roy reminded that the Chief Minister has constitutional duty to protect the interests of all castes and communities of the state as he took the oath. He is not only of Khilonjiyas but he is the Chief Minister of all Assamese, Bengalis, Bodos, Dimasas, Koch, Manipuris and tea tribe communities living in the state. Therefore, such a statement of the Chief Minister is completely unconstitutional. Besides, the government has not yet defined who is a Khilonjiya in the state.

Dutta Roy said that Assam is a multilingual state. Therefore, the people of Barak will not accept the theory of giving priority to a group by delimitation. He said if the government decides to finalise the draft, Barak Valley should be excluded from the process. Otherwise this Valley will not be with Assam and its people will be forced to walk the path of separation. He said if that is the case, then the government should make mental preparations for it.

Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Chief Convener of BDF Media Cell said that the spontaneous anger of people is being expressed across the Valley over this draft. The police and the administration have been active enough but have failed to quell this anger. He said that the people of Barak have observed the bandh and marched ignoring the warnings of the administration. Bhattacharjee said it is the duty of all the elected representatives of the ruling party to respect the anger and sentiments of the people. It is the demand of the time for them to come forward as representatives of the people and oppose the draft. He urged them to come forward and assured that the people of Barak Valley and BDF would welcome them wholeheartedly and their political future would be fully secured. However, they should not forget the trust and faith that the people have placed on them.

Hrishikesh Dey, another convener of BDF Media Cell, said as per the 2002 Delimitation Law it is not legal to hand over the survey and draft preparation responsibility to the Election Commission from the Delimitation Commission because it is not the job of the Election Commission and they do not have the necessary infrastructure for that. It is suspected that this survey and plan are completely brain-child of the government and the Election Commission has only given its assent. Therefore, if the decision is taken to implement this draft, Barak Valley will be forced to separate from Assam, he commented.