Assam Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that he would not oppose Bengali-majority Barak Valley’s separation from the state if the region’s people demand so even though he does not want that to happen.
“If people want separate Barak Land why would we oppose? But the people have to take the decision collectively and not some Leftists,” Sarma said during his visit to Barak Valley on Thursday.
The CM also underlined the need for consent from every citizen of the area for the separation.
“I have been receiving messages on WhatsApp from people and they wanted me to visit. People are extremely happy with delimitation and our party will win at least 10 out of 13 seats in the next assembly election,” Sarma said, adding that the region’s people should ignore demands of separation.
“Some people always tell me that a particular group only talks about the separation of Barak but most of the people here believe in living together. As chief minister of Assam, I do not want separation either. We all are brothers and sisters. We should stay together,” the CM added.
The demand for the separation of Barak Valley encompassing districts of Cachar, Karimganj, and Haliakandi goes back to the 1960s. It was renewed this year following the reduction of the region’s assembly seats to 13 from 15 in the 126-member Assam assembly.
The Election Commission of India finalised the delimitation process for Assam’s assembly and 14 Lok Sabha seats in July. The move triggered protests.
