Demand for autonomy intensifies in Assam - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Amidst a raging debate on carving out new provinces, activists of the Jatiya Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), a regional organisation, took out massive rally across Assam to press their demand. Holding placards, banners and raising slogans on the streets of Jorhat district and Guwahati, the activists believe that Assam has enough natural resource and thus should have no problems of good governance. They said leaving apart four areas like defence, foreign affairs, communication and currency the rest of the powers should be transferred to the state. "We demand that there should be total autonomy in Assam, apart from powers of defence, foreign affairs, communication and currency. Rest of the powers should be handed over to the state. This would help in giving right of self determination to indigenous population and ingenious tribes and communities here," said Monoj Goswami, an activist. AJYCP feels that full autonomy is the only way for all-round development of Assam . In March 12, 1978, AJYCP first started the demand for full autonomy for Assam . Earlier, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) group had given up the demand for sovereignty and had settled for autonomy. The All Assam Students Union had also demanded a special status for the state. The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), a regional group in Karbi-Anglong and North Cachar districts of Assam has also now upped its ante for a separate state.