HT correspondent
GOSSAIGAON, March 24: A massive public rally was organised on Sunday in Uttarpara, Gosaigaon, under the initiative of the Kamtapur State Demand Council (KSDC) to press for the demands of granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Koch-Rajbongshi community, re-establishing a separate Kamtapur state, and including the Koch-Rajbongshi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The rally, conducted under the leadership of KSDC’s central president Tapati Roy Mallik that witnessed the participation of thousands of Koch-Rajbongshi people from different regions, including Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.
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Addressing the gathering, KSDC leaders strongly criticised the central and state governments of Assam and West Bengal.
During the rally, leaders and workers of KSDC and other Koch-Rajbongshi organisations stated that despite the Indian government’s appeal, Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO) chief Jibon Singha has returned to the mainstream, yet he has not been allowed to move freely.
The continued house arrest of KLO leaders Jibon Singha and DL Koch has prevented any peace agreement with the Koch-Rajbongshi community.
Kamtapur Suraksha Samiti’s chief advisor, Dev Kumar Saikia, expressed frustration, highlighting that even after seven rounds of discussions with the central and state governments, no concrete outcome has been achieved.
KSDC leaders accused the governments of betraying the Koch-Rajbongshi people.
They reiterated that the primary demands are ST status for the Koch-Rajbongshi community and the re-establishment of Kamtapur state.
If these demands are not met within the next three months, the Koch-Rajbongshi people will boycott the BJP in the 2026 elections.
KSDC General Secretary Devendra Nath Roy further demanded that through the peace agreement with Jibon Singha and DL Koch, the Koch-Rajbongshi language should be recognised, and the process of creating a separate Kamtapur state should begin.
Leaders from Assam and West Bengal urged the Koch-Rajbongshi people to preserve their language and culture.
They called on the community to identify their mother tongue as Koch-Rajbongshi instead of Assamese in Assam and instead of Bengali in West Bengal.
KSDC Vice-President and AKRASU General Secretary Sonadhar Roy warned, “Stop playing political games with the Koch-Rajbongshi people. If the government has the intent, then grant ST status. If not, make it clear that ST status will not be given. Also, initiate the process of re-establishing Kamtapur state or state clearly that it will not happen. Otherwise, political parties in Assam and BTC will soon realise what the Koch-Rajbongshis can do.”
Former KLO leader Dhananjay Barman demanded immediate discussions to resolve issues faced by ex-KLO members.
He also warned that if the demands are not fulfilled within three months, all organisations of the Koch-Rajbongshi community will launch a large-scale democratic movement.
