Indefinite hunger strike for Bodoland enters 5th day

Guwahati: The indefinite hunger strike, undertaken by ABSU and other Bodo groups, today entered the fifth day for a separate Bodoland.

"We'll not withdraw the agitation till talk starts at the political level. We need a separate Bodoland state," All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) President Pramod Boro said.

"The government should not treat us like Bangladeshi or Pakistani. They should decide whether they want to talk to us or they want to fight. They don't need to make attempts to befool us," Boro said.

Stating that the government had sent a "half-hearted" letter yesterday requesting to end the hunger strike with no specific time and date for political dialogue, he said the union government and Assam did not have time to address the issues of the indigenous people.

He said "we are warning all the forces working against the interest of the Bodos and other indigenous communities to refrain from such activities."

Led by ABSU, National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) {NDFB-P)} and People's Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM), besides a number of Bodo groups started the indefinite hunger strike on March 10.

A big rally was organised pressing for the demand this morning in Kokrajhar town.