GCPA ON BANGSHI BADAN BARMAN

GCPA to continue fast till Centre's intervention

The indefinite hunger strike of The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCPA) stepped into its tenth day on Wednesday. The activists of the GCPA are on fast in Cooch Behar since 18 July demanding formation of a separate state, proper implementation of the agreement by which former princely state of Cooch Behar was merged with India and formation of a caretaker cabinet of ministers for Cooch Behar.

General secretary of the GCPA Ms Namita Barman told this reporter on Wednesday that they would continue their agitation till the Centre comes up for talks with them over the demands. "We want to talk with the Central government only", she said. But, no one from the Central government or from the state government approached them till now, she said. At the same time she said that similar hunger strike is going on in New Delhi led by the GCPA president Mr Nirmal Ray.

Claiming that about 50,000 supporters already joined in the hunger strike, Ms Barman said that the number is growing day by day. Though more than one hundred persons had to be hospitalised as their health condition turned worse, they came back to join the agitation again after attending medical care in the hospital, she claimed.

When asked to comment over the news of Mr Bangshi Badan Barman's probable release from the correctional home, the GCPA general secretary said they also heard of it. Is there any possibility about come back of the ex-supremo of the GCPA to the organisation again? Ms Barman said they are keeping watch over the matter. "At first we would have to learn his actual attitude because at present he is with the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP). The issue of his possibility of return to the GCPA may come up only after his release from the jail", she said.  - DEBASHIS BHAUMIK