'Greater' faction demands caretaker government by 15 August

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 20: A faction of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) led by Mr Jyotish Sarkar demanded formation of a caretaker government by 15 August of this year. In support of their demand they submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate of Cooch Behar on Wednesday. A spokesman of GCPA (JS) declared that they would organise a greater movement if the authorities fail to fulfil their demand.

 

It may be recalled that following difference on several issues the GCPA got divided about two years ago. After the violence that occurred on 20 September 2005 a number of leaders and activists were arrested. The followers of the think-tank of the organisation Mr Bangshi Badan Barman renamed their organisation as Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP). Later, they came under an umbrella organisation named Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF) alongwith Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) and All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union (AAKRASU). On the otherhand the followers of Mr Jyotish Sarkar are still running their organisation under the old banner.

 

On Wednesday a large number of GCPA (JS) supporters gathered in Cooch Behar and submitted memorandums addressed to the President, the Prime Minister and the Union home minister through the district magistrate. A spokesman of GCPA (JS) said that they want a separate state following the agreement signed between the then Maharaja of Cooch Behar and the Union of India by which the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar was merged with India. The proposed new state should be constituted with those districts of north Bengal, Assam and Bihar that were once under Cooch Behar Kingdom, he demanded. Proper implementation of the merger agreement can solve all problems, he opined.

 

Coming down heavily on GCDP leadership and CPI-M the GCPA (JS) spokesman said the authorities concerned should form a caretaker government to run the proposed state government by 15 August otherwise they will launch a greater movement to get the proposed new state.

 

GCDP sources however denied making any comment about the demand and movement of the GCPA (JS). As their chief Mr Bangshi Badan Barman is staying behind the bars they are very careful to make any hasty comment or adopt any decision. CPI-M sources too denied commenting on the movement of GCPA (JS) terming them as a "secessionist force". []

 

PHOTO (GCPA-JS) : Procession demanding implementation of Cooch Behar's merger agreement. In front of the statue of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan on the bank of Sagardighi in Cooch Behar on Wednesday.