Guwahati, 6th November: The Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) has issued a plea to both the Central and state governments, urging the expeditious conclusion of peace talks. KLO leaders are emphasizing the need for a resolution in the ongoing discussions between the outfit and the governments of Centre and Assam.
As part of their demands, the KLO has requested the dropping of all charges against their chairman, Jeevan Singha, and other cadres to facilitate the smooth progress of a peace accord. Additionally, they are calling for steps to be taken for the creation of a separate state of Kamatapur, formed from parts of Assam and West Bengal.
In a further appeal, the KLO insists that the Kamatapuri language be incorporated into the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and receive official recognition. They are also advocating for the inclusion of the Koch Rajbongshi community under the reservation benefits provided for Scheduled Tribes (Plain) category.
These calls for a conclusion to the peace talks come amid recent reports suggesting Jeevan Singha’s potential reentry into mainstream politics and the near-completion of bilateral peace negotiations between the Government of India and the Kamtapur Liberation Organization.
The talks, mediated by the Chief Minister of Assam, had reached an advanced stage by January 2023, with a focus on addressing the rights and welfare of the people of Koch-Kamtapur.
However, tensions escalated in September 2023 when Jeevan Singha accused the Indian government of betraying the Kamtapur people, leading to calls for protest and the assertion of their rights.
Singha criticized the government’s failure to fulfill promises to the Kamtapuri people and underscored the importance of recognizing and preserving the Kamtapuri language as an integral part of their identity.
Referencing the historic Merger Agreement of August 28, 1949, between India and the independent Greater Behar State, Singha lamented the lack of recognition and rights accorded to the Kamtapur region to this day.
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