Stranded trucks on NH 31C during the 48-hour bandh. Picture by Preetam B. Choudhury

Kokrajhar, Aug. 26: The 48-hour national highways and railway bandh called by the United Democratic People’s Front (UDPF) beginning 5am today has evoked a mixed response.

Though the bandh had an adverse impact on traffic along NH31(C), which passes through the Bodo belt, railway services were not affected as trains continued to run on schedule.

The front’s activists, armed with placards, staged a dharna on the national highway for around 2 hours in the morning.

Hundreds of trucks were seen stranded along the highway, including the inter-state check gate at Srirampur. Movement of private vehicles was also limited.

The UDPF has called the bandh demanding creation of a separate state of Bodoland in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 and 3 of the Constitution and an early solution to the NDFB problem through discussion.

The NDFB (P), which is under ceasefire with the Centre, extended its full support to the bandh.

UDPF vice-president Bhramon Baglari said though the indigenous Bodo people had been demanding Bodoland state since the 1960s, the government had been sidelining the main issue by providing alternatives like an autonomous council and other economic packages.

He said the NDFB, which was initiating a peaceful political dialogue for the creation of Boroland within the framework of the Constitution, represented the genuine aspirations and legal demand of the Bodo people.

He added that the leadership of every Bodo organisation could see that the NDFB peace talks was not making much headway as the Centre was not that keen about creating Bodoland, and as such, the Bodo people have been compelled to launch the second phase of democratic movement to pressurise the government to heed their demand.

“That is the reason why we have all geared up for the second phase of Bodoland movement, which will continue till our demand is fulfilled. If the government adopts dilly-dallying tactics regarding this age-old political issue, things are bound to get out of control,” Baglari said.

NDFB (P) information and publicity secretary S. Sanjarang said all conditions were right for creation of Bodoland. “Despite this, Bodos and other indigenous people have been repeatedly denied and deprived of their rights. Why have they been deprived so far? Why this discrimination? We strongly feel that this is a gross historical injustice towards the Bodos. There will be no peace in the Northeast till the Bodos get a separate state.”