The central government has reportedly given assurances that leaders of the banned Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) will be released from confinement, a move that has sparked a sharp political row in West Bengal. The announcement came after a high-level meeting between a delegation from the Kamtapur State Demand Council (KSDC) and central negotiators in New Delhi.
Key Assurances from the Centre
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Kamtapur State Demand Council stated that the Centre had assured them that KLO chairperson Jiban Singha Koch and other members would be "free from confinement" and allowed to move "without any restriction." This assurance followed a two-day peace talk session involving a nine-member KSDC delegation.
The KSDC's release further noted that regarding the core demand for a separate Kamtapur or Greater Kochbihar state, the government team had approached the discussions with an open mind. "The team observed that the Govt of India has approached the talks with an open mind to resolve the long-standing demands of KLO and expressed hope that the process would move in a positive direction," the release stated.
Trinamool Congress's Strong Rebuttal
The development prompted an immediate and forceful response from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government of playing with fire for electoral gains.
"Any attempt by BJP to fan separatism in Bengal with an eye on elections would be thwarted," Ghosh declared. He emphasized that while the TMC was analyzing the outcome of the talks, the party was firmly against any threat to the state's unity. "BJP should stop playing with fire," he added.
Ghosh reiterated the state's unwavering integrity, stating, "Bengal remains united and any attempt to attack its geopolitical unity will have consequences." He highlighted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's development agenda and asserted that "every inch of its geography is integral and important to Bengal." Any conspiracy against it, he warned, would be fought by the people.
Outstanding Demands and Language Recognition
The KSDC press release also shed light on other demands that were discussed. The council noted that the central negotiators did not comment on their demand for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Koch-Rajbangshi people residing in Assam, Bihar, and North Bengal.
However, on the demand to include the Kamtapuri (Rajbangshi) language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, the Centre indicated it was considering the matter along with several other languages. This move, if realized, would grant the language official recognition.
The peace talks and the subsequent assurances mark a significant moment in the long-standing discussions concerning the demands of the Kamtapur movement. The political fallout, however, underscores the sensitive and charged nature of the issue, especially with elections on the horizon. The situation remains fluid as reactions from other political quarters are awaited.
