Gorkhas, Bodos take cue, get battle ready

With a separate Telangana state soon to become reality, West Bengal and Assam are witnessing a resurgence of the protracted movements for Gorkhaland and Bodoland, respectively. Sanjib Kr Baruah reports.

With a separate Telangana state soon to become reality, West Bengal and Assam are witnessing a resurgence of the protracted movements for Gorkhaland and Bodoland, respectively.

While the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership is meeting on Monday night to discuss the matter, the Bodo students are also gearing up to revive the movement. The agitations have a bloody history and there is apprehension of the cycle being repeated.

Reacting to chief minister Mamata Bannerjee's statement that her state would never be divided, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said: "If there is Telangana, there has to be Gorkhaland. We are planning our move in the light of new developments."

Ominously, he added: "It will be a final battle this time around."

The Bodos are equally eager. All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) vice-president Jiron Basumatary said: "We have waited decades; we cannot wait any longer. We will meet on Tuesday to chart out a series of agitations to press for a separate state."

The executive council of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) also met on Monday and reiterated a February 2010 resolution demanding the setting up of a separate Bodo state.