Talks push to Dimaraji

Guwahati, Aug. 24: The All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU), Dimasa People’s Council (DPC) and United Peoples’ Federation of Assam (UPFA) today demanded that the Centre clear its stand on the 20-year-old issue of a Dimaraji state at an early date.

The demand has come close on the wheels of utter disappointment and frustration expressed by the Dilip Nunisa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah over the Centre’s failure to start a concrete dialogue on the issue during the past two decades.

The DHD (Dilip), a dominant militant group of Dima Hasao district, signed a ceasefire agreement with the central government in 2003.

The concept of a Dimaraji state envisages the amalgamation of the Dimasa-inhabited areas of Karbi Anglong, erstwhile North Cachar Hills, Cachar and Nagaon districts in Assam and the Dhansiri tract in Nagaland as a full-fledged separate state under the Indian Union.

At a joint media conference here, leaders of ADSU, DPC and UPFA said it would spell doom if the DHD (Dilip) returns to arms and goes back to the jungles in case Delhi does not agree to its principal demand for a Dimaraji state.

“We simply do not understand why the authorities in New Delhi have not been able to take any decision on the Dimaraji state demand which has been hanging fire since 1989. It is high time the Centre cleared its stand on the issue without further ado. The Centre must be transparent and say whether it is conceding the demand for Dimaraji or not. It has been learnt that the Centre was avoiding the issue during its earlier meetings with the DHD leadership,” UPFA president Jebra Ram Muchahary said.

He said even though the demand is now being considered by the Centre’s interlocutor P.C. Haldar, the UPFA, ADSU and DPC have found that Haldar is not involving himself fully to start talks with the outfit.

He said Haldar must understand the sentiments of the Dimasa people and do something on a war-footing to bring about permanent peace in the hill districts.

Muchahary said a massive rally would be organised at Haflong on August 30 to generate public opinion on the Dimaraji state and pressure the Centre to amicably solve the issue at an early date.

Sanmoni Kemprai, general secretary of DPC said the DHD (D) must continue to exercise restraint in the greater interest of the Dimasa community.

DHD (D) chairman Dilip Nunisa said it is unfortunate that the Centre has failed to reciprocate positively despite the militant outfit showing a great deal of enthusiasm and will for peace.